Esther Rantzen

Responding to calls from TV presenter and ChildLine founder Esther Rantzen for a telephone hotline to be set up so that older people can report elder abuse, Age Cymru's Elder Abuse Programme Manager Louise Hughes says:

"Age Cymru is committed to tackling elder abuse and its causes and this idea being put forward by Esther Rantzen is a welcome contribution to the debate about elder abuse and how to eradicate it.

"While we know that there isn't a ‘silver bullet' - one simple solution that will eradicate elder abuse, a national telephone line could encourage and empower people to come forward and take action to put an end to suffering.

"We need a package of measures to effectively tackle elder abuse and this is why Age Cymru's Rule Out Abuse campaign is calling for the Welsh Government to introduce new legislation to place a duty on public authorities to investigate allegations or suspicions of elder abuse.

"No adult should have to endure abuse and anyone who is experiencing abuse or suspects that someone they know is being abuse can report it to the police or social services."