Manchester helps raise awareness of elder abuse
11 June 2010
Manchester Safeguarding Adults Board is joining organisations across the world in raising awareness of elder abuse.
Tuesday 15 June 2010 is World Elder Abuse Awareness day, with the slogan 'My World....You World...Our World - Free of Elder Abuse' and Manchester is calling for people to take action to keep older people safe from abuse.
In Manchester in 2008/09 more than 400 older people were reported as victims of abuse. In 2009/10 this had risen to 931.
It is believed that this increase is largely due to the fact that more people are reporting abuse because more people now know about it.
Most elder abuse is hidden because older people are least able to speak up for themselves. One of the most effective ways to tackle and reduce elder abuse is by empowering older people, and raising the public's awareness.
And by increasing awareness, through providing better and more information, there has been an increase in the number of people being referred to the partner agency services and getting the help they need.
Elder abuse can take many forms including neglect and mistreatment. It can happen anywhere and anyone could be an abuser. This includes people who are in a position of trust such as family members or paid carers who were identified in two thirds of the Manchester cases.
Councillor Glynn Evans, executive member for adult services at Manchester City Council said: "Elder abuse may be a deliberate act, or it can be the result of ignorance, or lack of training. Whatever the cause, elder abuse should never be tolerated or ignored."
Once concerns are reported, agencies are committed to working together to stop repeated abuse, investigate allegations and take preventative steps to reduce risk.
People are being urged not to stay silent and report abuse if they see or hear it - or if it is happening to them.
They can contact Manchester City Council on 0161 255 8250, Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050, or in an emergency call 999.
For more information please go to http://www.manchester.gov.uk/safeguarding
