Abuse of older people
Elder abuse is any act, or failure to act, by a trusted person that causes harm or distress to an older person. Elder abuse includes physical, sexual, financial, or psychological abuse and neglect.
Approximately 1 in 6 older Australians in our communities experience elder abuse and people living with dementia are at heightened risk. Fewer than 1 in 24 cases are reported.
Activities
Identifying and responding to elder abuse
Prof Nola Ries was a lead investigator of a NSW Government-funded project, Action on Elder Abuse. She conducted focus groups and interviews with legal and health practitioners, designed and delivered training on elder abuse, and led the development of a practical resource for lawyers:
This Toolkit is available nationally on Compass, a web portal of resources funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General as part of its national strategy on elder abuse.
In 2021, Prof Ries launched innovative dementia-focused training for legal professionals, including an online short course, Elder Abuse: Strategies for Prevention, which focuses on financial abuse and exploitation.
Survey of medical practitioners
Prof Nola Ries is part of a research team led by Dr Jamie Bryant, University of Newcastle, undertaking a national survey of general practitioners and geriatricians. The survey investigates their knowledge, experiences, and practices in relation to elder abuse, including among patients with a dementia diagnosis.
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Please also visit our resources page.
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Publications
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Nola M Ries & Elise Mansfield, “Action on Elder Abuse: A New South Wales pilot project on the role of legal and health practitioners in elder abuse screening, response and prevention” (2020) 43(2) UNSW Law Journal 738-761
Nola M Ries, “Enduring Powers of Attorney and Financial Exploitation of Older People: A Conceptual Analysis and Strategies for Prevention” (2019) Journal of Aging & Social Policy 1-19 https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2019.1704143
Nola M Ries, “Elder Abuse and Lawyers' Ethical Responsibilities: Incorporating Screening into Practice” (2018) 21(1) Legal Ethics 23-45
Nola M Ries, “When powers of attorney go wrong: Preventing financial abuse of older people by enduring attorneys” (2018) 148 Precedent 9-13
Nola Ries & Elise Mansfield, “Elder Abuse: The role of general practitioners in community-based screening and multidisciplinary action” (2018) 47(4) Australian Journal of General Practice 132-135