KEY POINTS:
Isolation, poor health and having family members with mental health or substance abuse issues raise the risk of elder abuse, a Families Commission report says.
The study, released today, covers psychological, physical, sexual and financial abuse of the elderly.
This report gathers the views of a wide range of organisations, individuals and experts on how elder abuse and neglect occurs and what can be done to prevent it.
It includes interviews with 15 older people who had been abused and 22 who had not.
Researcher Kathy Peri said most victims researchers spoke to were left absolutely devastated by their treatment.
For those living with their abusers the situation was often intolerable.
The report says older people are less likely to be abused or neglected if they understand their rights, have a strong sense of their self worth and positive relationships with their families.
The study also looks at risk factors associated with residential care.
It finds that older people living in institutions with efficient and effective regulatory monitoring systems and policies, with well trained and well paid staff, are less likely to be neglected or abused.
However the situation was different in institutions struggling for staff.
One residential carer told researchers staff-patient ratios were often so poor she found it hard to provide adequate care.
"There is one nurse for 20 residents. We can not handle them as we would like. We just give them the pills."
Chief Families Commissioner Rajen Prasad said the study showed people needed to place greater value on the role of older people.
It also showed the need for better funding for services that respond to elder abuse and neglect.
- NZPA
