Taking Control: Putting Older People at the Centre of Elder Abuse Response Strategies

Elder abuse is acknowledged to be a significant social problem in Australia, but Australia's elder abuse responses have significant limitations. These responses, as evidenced by state and territory elder abuse strategies, voice important principles and typically seek to improve the knowledge of service providers, potential victims, and the general public about elder abuse. But they tend only to identify and draw upon existing service and community care responses in their attempts to address elder abuse. This article provides a policy analysis of existing elder abuse response strategies and argues that reforms are needed to ensure that the strategies: prioritise the wishes and wellbeing of the person in question; identify and empower lead agencies; and drive collaborative responses.