Every older person has the right to live with dignity, respect and choice.
Elder abuse can happen to anyone. It often occurs in relationships where trust is expected and can take many forms, including financial, emotional, physical and social abuse, neglect and coercive control. Understanding the signs and knowing where to seek support can make a difference.
Elder abuse, sometimes referred to as the abuse or mistreatment of older people, happens when an older person is harmed, exploited, controlled or neglected by someone they know and trust. It can happen in families, friendships, caring relationships, community settings or residential care.
Older people have the right to make their own choices, be treated with dignity and respect, maintain important relationships and remain involved in decisions that affect their lives. Sometimes elder abuse is obvious. Sometimes it develops gradually over time, making it harder to recognise.
Elder abuse can affect a person’s safety, wellbeing, independence, finances, relationships and quality of life.
Elder abuse can take many forms.
Abuse and mistreatment often involves more than one type of abuse. It may also involve coercive control, where a pattern of behaviour is used to dominate, isolate or control an older person’s decisions, relationships, finances or independence over time. Coercive control can be difficult to recognise because it often develops gradually and may occur alongside other forms of abuse.
While elder abuse can take many forms, it is not always easy to recognise, particularly when it develops gradually over time.
The abuse or mistreatment of an older person is not always easy to recognise.
You might feel:
If something doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to seek advice and talk to someone you trust.
The signs of elder abuse or mistreatment can be different for everyone, but some common indicators include:
You do not need proof before seeking advice or support.
There is no single cause of elder abuse.
A range of factors can increase the risk, including social isolation, dependence on others, family conflict, financial pressures and ageism. Ageism can make it harder to recognise abuse and may lead people to dismiss the rights, choices and voices of older people. Understanding these factors can help individuals, families and communities recognise concerns earlier and take action to prevent abuse and mistreatment.
Elder abuse is more common than many people realise. According to the National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study (2021):
These figures remind us that elder abuse can affect anyone and often occurs behind closed doors. Raising awareness and knowing where to seek support can make a difference.
Many people are unsure whether what they are seeing or experiencing is elder abuse. You do not need to be certain before reaching out for support.
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Support services can help you:
Seeking advice does not automatically trigger action. Seeking support does not mean giving up control. Wherever possible, older people remain at the centre of decisions about their lives, relationships and the support they receive.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger please call 000 for emergency services. For text-based emergency access (for hearing or speech impairment), call 106.
Queensland has a network of community legal centres and legal support services that can provide advice on matters such as elder abuse, financial abuse, powers of attorney, guardianship and other legal issues.
COTA Queensland works alongside older people, communities and organisations to raise awareness, promote prevention and advocate for change.
Our work includes:
We do this because every older person has the right to age with dignity, respect and safety.
Elder abuse is not always easy to see. Sometimes, it is found in the silence, isolation, exhaustion or loss of control an older person experiences.
A Time to Listen shares a series of short, de-identified stories inspired by the experiences of older Queenslanders, families, neighbours and frontline workers.
Each story encourages us to pause, listen and recognise the circumstances that can allow abuse or mistreatment to remain hidden.
Through these stories, we hope to help Queenslanders:
Preventing abuse and mistreatment starts with respect.
We can all play a role by:
Creating communities where older people feel valued, heard and included helps reduce the risk of abuse and mistreatment.
Every year on June 15th, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) encourages communities to recognise the abuse and mistreatment of older people and take action.
A Time to Listen is part of Council on the Ageing Queensland’s commitment to helping Queenslanders recognise the signs, start conversations and know where to find support.
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The voices and experiences of older Queenslanders help shape our work.
By sharing stories, participating in consultations and joining community conversations, older people play a vital role in helping prevent elder abuse and create positive change.
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Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland is the peak body representing older people in Queensland.
For almost 70 years, we have worked alongside older Queenslanders, community organisations and decision-makers to ensure older people are heard, respected and included in decisions that affect their lives.
Council on the Ageing Queensland is very keen to share your lived experience with older Queenslanders.
By adding your voice, you can help us advocate to governments, businesses and communities to positively influence change. Together we can make Queensland a place where older people can age with dignity, independence and purpose.
Take the first step in joining our community by entering your details below and we will be in touch.
Don’t worry, we will never sell or share your contact information with anyone outside of COTA Queensland without your permission.
Thank you for your interest in advocating for the rights and wellbeing of older Queenslanders.
