Charity Throws Focus On Elder Abuse

A charity will discuss the issue of elder abuse at a special seminar in Wrexham. Age Concern Cymru will host the talks on strategies to help prevent elder abuse at the Ramada Plaza Hotel on Tuesday.

The seminar will hear how abuse can occur in settings including care homes, at home or even a hospital and focus on preventative services.

Protection in care homes, financial abuse, problems faced by older people with dementia, adult protection procedures and older lesbian, gay and bisexual people will be discussed.

Age Concern Cymru’s elder abuse project officer Louise Hughes said: “Older people who are being abused can often feel powerless, isolated, and unaware of what they can do to stop the abuse. We know that when people are supported by independent advocates the fear and loneliness they experience can be replaced with a confidence to say no.”

Robert Taylor, director of Age Concern Cymru, said: “There is a lot good work being undertaken in preventing elder abuse but there are still too many gaps in the system which we need to address urgently.”

He added that hopefully this seminar will go some way towards eradicating it in Wales.