CALLS have been made for unannounced checks to uncover rogue nursing homes amid claims that incidents of elder abuse in Limerick are on the increase.
The call came from Oliver Creighton of the Limerick Seniors Forum ahead of an event to increase awareness of a problem which is causing misery for older people.
Latest figures show that where abuse is happening in the community, half of all abusers are the adult children of the victim while 20 per cent are the spouses of the victim.
More older people are falling foul of financial abuse, with adult children collecting pensions and spending it on themselves.
“We know that it is happening in Limerick and that it is on the increase, What is missing is the awareness”, Mr Creighton said.
“Many elderly people don’t want to talk about what is happening because it may be their own children who are abusing them and people don’t want to admit that. But there is help available,” he told the Limerick Post.
The Forum representative said that abuse can take many forms “including neglect, lack of washing or proper nutrition and this doesn’t just happen in the family home – we have seen certain nursing homes being closed because of it.
“But what we don’t agree with is that when an inspection takes place, the home is given a time and date. All inspections should be unannounced. Even when they’re given advance warnings, some of these homes still don’t come up to standard”.
International World Elder Abuse Awareness Day takes place on June 15. Established by the United Nations five years ago, the event is part of a strategy to raise public awareness about elder abuse in its many forms; physical, sexual, psychological, financial, discriminatory and neglect.
Its main purpose is to encourage communities to recognize the problem of elder abuse, and for countries to create policies that foster respect for elders and provide them with the tools to continue to be productive citizens.
Limerick Seniors Forum will hold a free event to discuss and provide information on issues around Elder Abuse Awareness on Monday June 9, from 11am in the Absolute Hotel. Speakers will include Elder Abuse specialist, Dr. Amanda Phelan as well as representatives of An Garda Siochana and the HSE.
Further information is available on www.limerickseniorsforum.ie
