2,400 reports of elderly abuse last year

More than 2,400 complaints of elder abuse were received by health chiefs last year, a 30% increase in six years.

The Health Service Executive said its hotlines saw a 1% fall in the number of reports, compared with 2012, but warned of a deepening crisis since records began in 2008.

Older people are most likely to suffer psychological abuse, its report stated, with 33% of all complaints related to emotional bullying, intimidation or harassment.