Elder Abuse – Break the Silence!

Elder Abuse – Break the Silence!

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 shines a light on abuse inflicted on some of our older generations.  

Elder abuse is a serious issue that happens close to home – 75% of alleged abusers are family members. It also thrives in secrecy as older people / kaumatua may feel ashamed about their mistreatment or fear retribution if they speak out about it.

By supporting WEAAD, Age Concern Otago wants to draw attention to elder abuse and remind older people that any abuse they might suffer is not their fault, that they are not alone, and confidential advice and support are only a phone call or email away.

Elder abuse, whether emotional, physical or financial, affects our entire community and we all have a responsibility to respect and protect our kaumatua by breaking the silence.

In order to speak up about elder abuse and prevent it, it’s also important to recognise it’s happening. The following MAY indicate an older person is being abused:

• Unexplained behaviour, sleeping or eating habits

• Withdrawal and/or edginess

• Fear of a particular person

• Confusion

• Unexplained injuries

• Drowsiness (due to over-medication)

• Recoiling from touch

• Unusual withdrawals from bank accounts

• Unpaid bills, lack of money for necessities

Some of the reasons why an older person doesn’t talk to anyone about their abuse are because they:

• blame themselves for the abuse

• are ashamed that the abuser is a family member

• depend on the abuser for support

• have low self-confidence and self-esteem

• don’t want to make a fuss

• are afraid that if they complain the abuse will get worse

• are isolated, making it difficult for them to tell anyone

• do not know who to tell or how to get help

• have dementia or an illness that prevents them from telling anyone

If you have concerns about how you or someone you know is being treated, please speak out.

Age Concern Otago’s Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS) is a free and confidential service employing professional staff to work with older people, their families and carers, providing support and advocacy so our kaumatua can be happy, healthy, and safe.

“If you’re the victim of abuse or know someone that is, you don’t need to suffer in silence,” says Marie Bennett EARS Team leader at Age Concern Otago. “Call us on 03 479 3053 or email me at marie@ageconcernotago.co.nz. You’re not alone, and we’re here to help.”

Coronation Ball

Coronation Ball - Join us to celebrate the crowning of King Charles III. Tuesday, 9th May, 2023

It’s time to dust off those dancing shoes (and get your glad rags out): In celebration of the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, Age Concern Otago is hosting a ball at the South Dunedin Community Hall on Tuesday, 9 May, from 1.30-3.30pm.

You don’t have to be able to cut the rug like Ginger Rogers or Fred Astaire to come along. The Coronation Ball is perfect for anyone wanting to enjoy some music and raise a toast to Charles, who will be crowned King by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey a few days earlier.

As well as afternoon tea, there will be a cash bar, and live music from popular Dunedin trio, the Oxo Cubans.

“Our Coronation Ball promises to be a lot of fun,” says Kristen, of Age Concern. “It’s not only a great chance to commemorate the crowning of Charles in style, but to get together with good music and dancing.”

Coronations don’t roll around every year - the last one, of Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II, was 70 years ago – so make sure you come along and help us celebrate a piece of history.

Tickets, which are only $5 per person (a bit cheaper than the £1,250 the Ritz Carlton are charging for their shindig), can be purchased from the Age Concern Otago office at 9 The Octagon, Dunedin Central 9016.

The Coronation Ball itself takes place at the South Dunedin Community Hall, 253 King Edward Street, Dunedin 9012 on Tuesday, May 9, from 1.30-3.30pm.

For more information, please email: agecon@ageconcernotago.co.nz or phone: 03 477 1040.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Reliable help at home for kaumātua older people

Finding a reliable tradie to help out around the home can be a surprisingly difficult task. Plus, maintaining your home and garden becomes more important—even daunting—as we approach the cooler weather. Are leaves starting to collect in your gutters, the pets moulting more than their body weight in fur, and the flowerbed weeds are growing like, well, weeds?  

Age Concern Otago's Home Trade Service connects our members across Dunedin and Mosgiel with reliable, police-vetted, and reference-checked tradespeople, straight to your door. Our office manager (the lovely Fiona, surely, you’ve met her at our Dunedin hub on the Octagon), even rings up to check how the referral has gone, so you can rest assured that we take your feedback to heart.  

You can enjoy an in-home personal grooming service with a qualified beautician (non-diabetic nail cutting) or hairdresser, plus make it a makeover day and have the pooch groomed by a pet care technician, too! Perhaps you simply need someone to help with basic tidying up and cleaning? We have someone for that. We can also refer a gardener, handyman, painter, builder, and more. 

If you need a job done, or want to be part of our referral service, please get in touch with Fiona on 03 477 1040, email reception@ageconcernotago.co.nz, or sign up online on the Our Services page

Do you live outside the Dunedin area and need help around the home?

Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for help connecting with the right service for you on 0800 367 222 or visit cab.org.nz/search to peruse their local listings.