Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State is very welcome. I wish to discuss the abuse of older people. The Minister of State addressed a conference on the topic of elder abuse last week in Galway, so she knows that it is an area of major concern for families. I will explain why financial institutions and the social welfare system are putting older people at risk of abuse. Elder abuse can take many forms, including physical, financial and psychological. A good definition of such abuse is when an expectation of trust is violated and harm or distress is caused to an older person as a result. How widespread is elder abuse? Nationally, some 1,500 referrals have been made to the HSE, with 60 of them in my own county of Galway. Some 150 of these cases have been referred to the Garda Síochána, and 83% of them concerned people living at home. This is why I am calling for a public awareness campaign to tackle the abuse of older people. In 96% of such cases there was a familial relationship between the older person and the person allegedly causing the concern. Most reports of elder abuse are made by health care staff, including GPs, public health nurses or home helps. It is good to see, however, that 10% to 11% of such reports are made by the elderly person's family.

The abuse can involve shouting at an older person, restricting visits, threats, instilling fear, neglect, leaving them alone all day, inadequate nutrition or dehydration. I am aware that it is difficult for families to mind older people because it is not always an easy relationship. Issues can arise on both sides of the coin, but the elderly are particularly vulnerable. It is all the worse when the situation is compounded by illness, such as early Alzheimer's, which does not provide for an easy relationship in the home.

Financial abuse may occur when a person's mobile phone credit is used by someone else, or their change is not returned after shopping. Even greater financial abuse can take the form of pressure concerning wills and the question of inheritance. A public awareness campaign needs to tackle attitudes to elder abuse.