Elder abuse is any action, or lack of action, deliberate or unintentional, which causes distress, harm, or serious risk of harm to an older person, or loss or damage to property or assets.

Information about elder abuse, including signs and effects, is available on the SA Health website.

Some types of elder abuse can amount to a criminal offence, such as assault. Other types of elder abuse may have different legal remedies, such as a civil claim or an intervention order.

What is an act of elder abuse?

Elder abuse can occur as a result of the direct actions or omissions of a person perpetrating the abuse. An act of abuse includes a failure to act, such as failing to provide a person with adequate accommodation, medical care or clothing.

Elder abuse can also occur as a result of indirect actionsof a person, for example when they make threats to harm someone the victim is close to and this causes the victim distress.

Similarly, a person commits an act of abuse if they:

Types of elder abuse

Elder abuse can take many different forms and a person may experience more than one type of abuse. It is generally accepted that the types of elder abuse (and some examples of what constitutes that abuse) are:

Physical

Such as inflicting pain or injury on a person.

Psychological

Such as using actions or language to intimidate a person or cause them fear or distress, depriving them of their liberty, threatening to institutionalise them or cause them physical injury, using racial or derogatory taunts.

Financial

Such as misusing the person's money, assets, property or resources, improper use of planning documents such as Powers of Attorney, unlawful access to and use of a person's bank account, incurring debts in the person's name without their knowledge, coercing a person to sign legal or financial documents, preventing a person from seeking or keeping employment.

Social

Such as isolating the person, unreasonable denial of their social, financial or domestic autonomy, unreasonably restricting access to friends or family, stopping social contact with others.

Neglect

Such as failing to provide adequate food, shelter, accommodation, clothing, and medical care to a person, refusing to allow others to provide this care to a person.

Sexual

Such as non-consensual sexual contact, behaviour or language.

Where to seek assistance

The Adult Safeguarding Unit within the Office for Ageing Well can receive and respond to reports of elder abuse within South Australia.

For information on elder abuse and services that can help South Australians, including in Auslan, see our Abuse Prevention Accessible Videos.

There are other agencies that may be able to help depending on the circumstances of the abuse:

SA Police

In an emergency, call 000

For non urgent police assistance, call 131 444

Police may be able to take reports and lay criminal charges where the abuse amounts to criminal offending, such as physical or sexual assault, theft or property damage. The police can also issue intervention orders when appropriate.

See the SA Police website for more information.

Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS)

ARAS provides support to uphold the rights of older people who are at risk of, or experiencing, abuse. ARAS can provide information, advice and advocacy to people living in Commonwealth-funded residential aged care or receiving aged care services, people living in retirement villages, or people living in the community who have concerns relating to elder abuse.

Call 1800 700 600 or (08) 8232 5377 or visit the ARAS website for more information.

Office of the Public Advocate (OPA)

The Office of the Public Advocate promotes and protects the rights of people who may need assistance with decision making. OPA provides information and advice on matters relating to Advance Care Directives and guardianship and can act as guardians of last resort.

Call 1800 066 969 or visit the Office of the Public Advocate website for more information.

Legal Services Commission

The Legal Services Commission provides free and confidential legal advice on matters relating to elder abuse and documents such as Powers of Attorney, Advance Care Directives and Wills.

Call the legal helpline on 1300 366 424 or visit the Legal Services Commission websitefor more information.

Other

Visit the Stop Elder Abuse website for more information on elder abuse. See also the list of publications including the 'Knowing Your Rights' booklet available to download from the SA Health website.

For complaints or concerns relating to Commonwealth- funded aged care services, call the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 or visit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website.