HSE training to detect elderly abuse

THE Health Service Executive is to train health and community professionals on how to detect the abuse of up to 20,000 elderly people who come into their care every year.

The abuse can include physical, psychological, financial or even sexual abuse. It is not confined to institutional abuse as highlighted by the Leas Cross case, but can also be inflicted by those closest to the person such as a family member.

Of the 2,600 calls made to Age Action Ireland’s helpline last year, up to 1,000 calls were linked to elder abuse. It has called for legislation to safeguard the independence of elderly people who suffer abuse, ideally where the person would not have to make a formal charge against a family member or carer.

The HSE has advertised for interested parties to set up the 1-2 day training course which would train 30-40 professionals in each session.

It would look at:

*Definition and awareness of elder abuse, including the nature of elder abuse, attitudes to older people and ageism, as well as the frequency in which elder abuse occurs and the effects of elder abuse on victims/perpetrators/society.

*Detection of elder abuse, including identification of signs that an older person has been abused, risk factors and factors affecting the assessment of abuse.

*The legal context and policy of elder abuse in Ireland, including the legal framework, Government and HSE policy on elder care and a Working Group on Elder Abuse procedures on elder abuse.

nIndividual professional guidelines and appropriate interventions.

The advertisement has focused initially on Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary with an initial target of 500 professionals to include GPs, health and social care professionals as well as hospital doctors, nurses and nursing home professionals.

The HSE said: “An increasingly ageing population coupled with a greater awareness of elder abuse in all its presentations has highlighted the need for the provision of training to those who engage with older people in their daily work practices.”

Eamon Timmins of Age Action said he generally welcomed the training. “Given what we have learnt in the last few weeks (Leas Cross) we need people to spot the signs of elderly abuse,” he said.

Separately, Mr Timmins said the Government needs to realise that in 40 years’ time there are going to be more people over 65 years of age than under-16s and so it must stop relying on the financially cumbersome nursing home system.

“That involves ramping up community services such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists now. It is about creating enough care to allow the elderly to remain in their own homes.

“If the Government continues to put 5% of the elderly into nursing homes, the budget is going to go through the roof,” he said.