AUSTRALIA | The recent horrifying incident in Australia, where a man broke into an aged care home at Bateau Bay on the NSW Coast and brutally raped a 90-year-old woman, underscores the vulnerability of elderly residents in care facilities.
The Royal Commission in Australia into the Aged Care Sector, spanning two years, unveiled distressing accounts of abuse and neglect within the aged care system. The inquiry revealed that, on average, an estimated 50 elderly people face sexual assault in aged care facilities each week in Australia.
Sexual assault within residential homes has become a critical concern, with the Commission receiving 588 submissions related to this issue.
The reforms, including mandatory staffing ratios and new laws to protect the rights of older adults, aimed to address these challenges. Starting in July 2022, residential care providers were expected to allocate at least 215 minutes per day for personal care workers, caregivers, and nurses to attend to the needs of the average resident. Providers must champion these reforms, taking leadership responsibilities seriously and being held accountable for neglect or abuse.
Peter Rozen QC described the situation as a "national shame". He emphasised that those in residential aged care face a substantially higher risk of assault than those living in the community, and often these assaults go unreported.
Beyond Australia, elder abuse is a global problem, with similar issues in New Zealand and internationally, where vulnerable elderly individuals often face abuse and neglect. Age Concern's elder abuse services in New Zealand receives many referrals, confirming that elder abuse is a pervasive issue, with as many as one in 10 older people in New Zealand experiencing some kind of elder abuse.
