World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Here is a letter issued to the editors of every newspaper in Wales by our Chief Executive, Robert Taylor OBE:  

Dear Editor

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

It is a startling fact that 39,000 people in Wales today are suffering elder abuse; it takes many different forms – from physical, financial, emotional or psychological abuse, to sexual abuse and neglect.

Elder abuse can happen anywhere – in people’s own homes, in care homes, hospitals, day care or other residential settings and Age Cymru wants your readers to help us to combat elder abuse in Wales.

I am asking anyone who suspects that someone they know may be being abused, or believes that someone is abusing an older person, to report their concerns to their local social services department’s adult protection team.

If anyone reading this thinks that an older person they know is in immediate danger because of elder abuse, please contact the police on 999.

Elder abuse is completely unacceptable and together we can help bring an end to the suffering of tens of thousands of older people in Wales.

Your readers may be interested to know that Age Cymru has produced a guide to elder abuse called Safeguarding Older People.

The guide is available by contacting Age Cymru’s elder abuse project on 01352 706228 or emailing Ffion.jones@agecymru.org.uk.

You can find more information about elder abuse on the Age Cymru website.