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June 10, 2015 at 5:18 PM

* From the NZ Family Violence Clearinghouse*

The 2015 World Elder Abuse Awareness Week will be held 15 - 22 June. The week begins with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) held on Monday 15 June, symbolised by the purple ribbon or just wearing purple.

WEAAD provides the opportunity for communities to promote a better understanding of elder abuse and neglect by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic issues which affect older people.

In New Zealand, more than 2000 cases of suspected abuse are referred to Age Concern nationally every year, of which approximately three-quarters are confirmed to involve elder abuse or neglect.

New Zealand Age Concern organisations will be holding events around the country during Elder Abuse Awareness Week, speaking on the issue of elder abuse and neglect. Visit the Age Concern website to access information on elder abuse and neglect including infosheets, booklets, posters and a web banner and logo. There is a list of things you can do to help. The website also provides short video clips discussing the different types of elder abuse.

In May 2015, the government announced an updated version of Health of Older People Strategy will be completed by the end of 2015. The new strategy will reflect changes which have occurred in the health and disability support service sector since 2002, emerging challenges faced by the healthcare system, and the development of a new health strategy.

Further resources:

Elder abuse and neglect: a selected bibliography, prepared by the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, University of Auckland, August 2012.

The United States National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) website provides a World Day Kit which includes outreach guides and tools, factsheets and website materials.

The United Nations website provides background information on WEAAD and elder abuse and neglect.

Read more on the NZFVC website here.