Elder abuse - Tackling the shocking problem

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been subjected to considerable criticism in recent times, but it deserves credit for tackling problems relating to the abuse of elderly people.

It would appear that those problems are more extensive than initially suspected.

There were 927 allegations of elder abuse reported last year to the HSE’s elder abuse service, which was set up following recommendations of the 2002 Working Group Report on Elder Abuse. The need for the service was further underlined by scandals like the Leas Cross affair, but the statistics compiled in this initial report indicate that 88% of those making complaints were living at home, while just 4% are in public care and only 3% in private nursing homes.