❓ Mr Alban asks about government support for vulnerable elderly Western Australians following an Advocare briefing on elder abuse. The Minister outlines financial support for an elder abuse hotline, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with Edith Cowan University on a financial security tool.
AnsweredQoN 520Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ADVOCARE — ELDER ABUSE HELPLINE
520. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering:
I recently attended a parliamentary briefing from Advocare
Incorporated about elder abuse. Can the minister advise the house what the
government is doing to support vulnerable elderly Western Australians?
520. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering:
I recently attended a parliamentary briefing from Advocare
Incorporated about elder abuse. Can the minister advise the house what the
government is doing to support vulnerable elderly Western Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills
for his question and for his interest in elder abuse. It is something that is
very important in our community and this government supports seniors very much.
As members are very much aware, somewhere in Western Australia 12 000 seniors
face abuse. Quite clearly, this is not a good outcome for us. One thing I
really have to stress more than anything about elder abuse is that it is more
likely to come from a relationship of trust; that is from extended family
members and extended relationships. It is very important that the government
recognises this. It has been very supportive of an elder abuse hotline set up
by Advocare. The member for Swan Hills attended a briefing about it last
Thursday. Last year, I stood to speak about $80 000 to set up a hotline to help
out elder abuse. It can be to do with anything, including emotional abuse and
financial abuse. Seniors can seek advice through that hotline for any type of
abuse. That is the important part. This year's budget allocated another
$100 000 towards that hotline.
Last week was Elder Abuse Awareness
Day. We did a thing down in Forrest Chase with Advocare. We did the article in The Sunday Times about that. On the
Monday morning there were nine calls into that hotline. One thing is clear: we
understand that as a government we have to do more advertising and promotion
for this thing. It is clearly why we are trying to help out and make sure this
advertising is right. We have also been working very closely with Edith Cowan
University. It came up with an innovative way to check on seniors in terms of
how secure their money is. The application is a fantastic little device that is
set up. By checking through about eight questions, seniors can find out how
safe their money is and who can access it. It is very important that seniors
feel safe not only in our community, but also at home, and that they trust the
people who care and look after them. This government supports seniors in our
community by helping them achieve their independence in their elderly years.
for his question and for his interest in elder abuse. It is something that is
very important in our community and this government supports seniors very much.
As members are very much aware, somewhere in Western Australia 12 000 seniors
face abuse. Quite clearly, this is not a good outcome for us. One thing I
really have to stress more than anything about elder abuse is that it is more
likely to come from a relationship of trust; that is from extended family
members and extended relationships. It is very important that the government
recognises this. It has been very supportive of an elder abuse hotline set up
by Advocare. The member for Swan Hills attended a briefing about it last
Thursday. Last year, I stood to speak about $80 000 to set up a hotline to help
out elder abuse. It can be to do with anything, including emotional abuse and
financial abuse. Seniors can seek advice through that hotline for any type of
abuse. That is the important part. This year's budget allocated another
$100 000 towards that hotline.
Last week was Elder Abuse Awareness
Day. We did a thing down in Forrest Chase with Advocare. We did the article in The Sunday Times about that. On the
Monday morning there were nine calls into that hotline. One thing is clear: we
understand that as a government we have to do more advertising and promotion
for this thing. It is clearly why we are trying to help out and make sure this
advertising is right. We have also been working very closely with Edith Cowan
University. It came up with an innovative way to check on seniors in terms of
how secure their money is. The application is a fantastic little device that is
set up. By checking through about eight questions, seniors can find out how
safe their money is and who can access it. It is very important that seniors
feel safe not only in our community, but also at home, and that they trust the
people who care and look after them. This government supports seniors in our
community by helping them achieve their independence in their elderly years.
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