Elder abuse reports increase by 30%

Reports of alleged abuse of older people and persons with disabilities increased by almost 30% in the past year, it has emerged.

There were 10,118 safeguarding concerns raised with the HSE last year, a 28% increase from 2016, with the largest increase recorded for those aged 18 to 64.

Of the concerns reported to the HSE’s National Safeguarding Teams, 7,199 came from a service setting and 2,915 from the community.