A morning tea at Taylors Hill will help shine a light on elder abuse.
As part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Melton council will host the morning tea to “remind our community that human rights do not diminish as people get older”.
Speakers from Seniors Rights Victoria will raise awareness about elder abuse and the importance of getting financial, medical, legal and other affairs in order.
Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik said the council hoped people at the morning tea would be empowered to recognise signs of elder abuse and speak against it.
“Given that most elder abuse occurs behind closed doors, it’s important that as a community we look out for the signs and offer help,” she said.
The council describes elder abuse as being “vastly under-reported” yet up to 10 per cent of older people worldwide are affected, according to the World Health Organisation.
Meanwhile, 81 per cent of older Victorians reported being financially, psychologically and emotionally abused, according to data compiled by the National Ageing Research Institute of Seniors Rights Victoria.
More than 70 per cent of the victims were female, 60 per cent of perpetrators were male, and 67 per cent of abuse was perpetrated by children of the victims.
The morning tea will be from 10.30am on Wednesday, June 15, at the Taylors Hill Youth and Community Centre, Calder Park Drive.
If you, or someone you know, is a victim of elder abuse, call 1300 368 821.
