Abuse - older people have families, advocates or friends

It is rare for an individual to have no one who is in close contact with them.

An older person may live in their own home, have home care services, they may live in a residential care home and are cared for by care staff so how can the amount of abuse of older people be taking place without someone noticing.

Could it be the case that it is noticed but nothing is done?

The families who visit their relatives in a care home and suspect abuse. Why put a camera in and possibly prolong the abuse? Why not make immediate plans to complain and remove their loved one from the risk of further mistreatment?

In a similar vein, if a home carer is suspected of any form of abuse, and abuse covers a wide range of factors, when it is noticed, why not change the care provider.

Care workers themselves may notice family or friends abusing their clients and for them it may be more difficult to prevent. Who do they tell? What responsibility do they have? What responses do they receive from the statutory services if they report it?

The responsibility of any care provider is to value and hold in high esteem the person you have taken responsibility to care for.

The responsibility of any caring family member, friend or advocate is to have a similar moral objective.

The State should not be the first in line to stamp abuse out. It is the duty of everyone of us who knows someone is being ‘cared for’ to make the first move to protect that person.