Concern over under-reporting of elder abuse
The number of alleged cases of elder abuse reported to the HSE in 2009 is an increase of 30 on 2008 figures but, with estimated international prevalence rates of between 1% and 5%, it is feared that many cases go undetected.
This year the HSE is taking steps to increase public awareness and ensure that their database captures all cases referred and being dealt with by the authority. Latest figures show most cases are referred to the HSE by public health nurses.
HSE specialist in services for older people, Paschal Moynihan, said a poor understanding of elder abuse, combined with an acceptance of the problem and a fear of reporting were all factors in under-reporting.
“This year the HSE plans to raise awareness of what elder abuse is and how to report it and we are working with other agencies and advocacy groups to achieve that goal,” he said.
Of the 1,870 reports of elder abuse made to the HSE, 435 were found to be exclusively self-neglect, that is, there was no alleged abuser.
A breakdown of the remaining 1,435 shows that psychological abuse was the most common type of abuse reported at 34%, followed by financial abuse (22%), neglect (20%) and physical abuse (14%).
In over half of cases, the alleged abuser and alleged victim are living together. Sons or daughters are the predominant alleged perpetrators at 46%, compared to other relatives (20%) and partner (18%).
In terms of case outcome, the national substantiation rate is consistent with that reported at the end of 2008 – 322 cases (23%) were substantiated.
Abuse was not substantiated in 459 cases (32%) while 637 were inconclusive (45%).
Of all the cases referred to the HSE, 14% (206) remain open.
Of the 1,435 cases analysed by the HSE, 45% related to individuals who were over 80 years of age.
Eight out of 10 cases of alleged elder abuse took place against victims who were living at home.
