Whether you’re 9 or 90, everyone has the right to be treated with respect and dignity.
Elder abuse is a form of family violence. It causes harm to an older person and is often carried out by someone in a position of trust, such as carers or family members.
Glenda Bawden, Principal Strategic Advisor – Family Violence, says when responding to older people experiencing family violence, as a service, we can work collaboratively with older victim survivors to make appropriate referrals.
“This type of abuse can manifest in many ways and include acts of psychological, financial, cultural, verbal, social, spiritual, sexual, and physical abuse and neglect.
Selina Neville, our Elder Abuse Liaison Officer, is available to support our employees who need specialist advice or secondary consultation about the complex decisions for older people at risk or experiencing elder abuse,” she says.
What can we do?
We have a role in supporting a person experiencing family violence. This includes:
- being familiar with the signs of family violence, including any risk factors
- asking questions about family violence sensitively, if there are observed signs or concerns
- if a disclosure is made, discussing the support options (e.g., Social Work or external service referral)
- supporting the client in making a basic safety plan (in cases where appropriate)
- seeking a secondary consultation if you are not sure what to do
- documenting all actions in the medical file.
We have provided some examples below of how elder abuse can manifest and the directions employees may take if faced with a patient who may be experiencing elder abuse.
Case study examples:
Case Study 1 – Mary
Mary lives with her son who has an acquired brain injury; however, he is high-functioning.
She has another son but doesn’t have contact with him.
She owns her home, but her son is verbally abusive towards her, referring to her as a ‘carer’. To avoid him, she stays in her room.
Her son has nowhere else to go and so she feels she needs to keep him in the house.
Considerations:
What would you suggest for Mary?
We have a responsibility to support people experiencing family violence. We would recommend following the steps:
- Seek a secondary consultation
- Contact Monash Health’s Elder Abuse Liaison Officer, Selina Neville – 0431 453 950
- Liaise with a Social Worker
- Offer Mary a referral
- Better Place Australia for ongoing assistance of a family consultant (available to Bayside residents only)
- Carer Gateway provides carers with respite and/or counselling
- Social support activities for Mary to get her out of the house (e.g. link in through the council)
- NDIS – Coordinator
- Acquired Brain Injury Services
- Seniors Rights Victoria -service brochure and information on elder abuse
- The Orange Door who can provide information about IVO’s
- Offer respite care
- ACAS can assist with respite care paperwork and a home care case manager
- Offer a safety plan
There is a safety plan template available on EMR (ad hoc tab – all professions) and SMR (legal tab) for all clinicians to use with people experiencing family violence. - Documentation
It’s important to document signs and disclosures of family violence in the medical record, including the actions you have taken to help keep your patient safe.
Case Study 2 – Beverley
Beverley is a 79-year-old woman who lives with her ex-partner in a rented house, which is under his name. She is from a non-English background.
She recently had a hip replacement and is currently an inpatient for rehabilitation. She discloses to staff that her ex-partner is controlling and feels he has total control of her life.
She owns a home but can’t live there as it is full of ‘stuff’, and he won’t allow her to visit her home to clean it. He also won’t allow her to drive anywhere without him and he insists on taking her to appointments and will wait for her.
Her sister lives interstate and she has no family close by. He also won’t allow her to have a mobile and she is only allowed to use his phone.
Beverley is constantly verbally abused and in complete coercive control. She mentions that the abuse has previously been physical.
Considerations:
What are the options to help Beverley?
We recommend following the steps:
- Liaise with a Social Worker in rehabilitation
- Seek a secondary consultation
- Contact Monash Health’s Elder Abuse Liaison Officer, Selina Neville – 0431 453 950
- Liaise with a Social Worker
- Offer Beverley a referral
- Orange Door for a free phone and financial support to escape the situation
- InTouch, a Multicultural organisation
- Better Place Australia for ongoing assistance of a family consultant if she lives in a Bayside Suburb
- Offer respite care
- ACAS can assist with respite care paperwork and a home care case manager
- Offer a safety plan – There is a safety plan template available on EMR (ad hoc tab – all professions) and SMR (legal tab) for all clinicians to use with people experiencing family violence.
- Documentation
It’s important to document signs and disclosures of family violence in the medical record, including the actions you have taken to help keep your patient safe.
For more information
Contact Selina Nivelle on 0431 453 950 or email Selina.Nivelle@monashhealth.org
You can also choose to contact one of the external services below:
- The Orange Door – specialist family violence service, available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (closed public holidays). Out-of-hours supportis available.
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission – Free service for reporting a confidential and anonymous concern or complaint about any of the care and services received from an Australian Government-subsidised service provider, available 1800 200 422 (8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm Saturday).
- Elder Rights Advocacy – free, confidential general information and advocacy service, elder abuse prevention and response, Community Visitors Scheme (1800 700 600 or 9602 3066 (B/H))
- 1800RESPECT(1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault and family violence counselling service, available online and on the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Seniors Rights Victoria – support, advice and education to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older people. Confidential Helpline: 1300 368 821 (B/H).
Approved by: Adjunct Associate Professor Naomi Dobroff, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer and General Manager EMR and Informatics Program