A new awareness campaign aims to put elder abuse at the top of everyone’s agenda.
Launched today (Friday), the multi-agency campaign aims to prevent domestic abuse in the older community and asks us all to be good neighbours, especially in the winter months.
Multi-agency campaign
Developed by the Isle of Wight Council in partnership with Inclusion Isle of Wight, Age UK Isle of Wight and Carers Isle of Wight, each week the campaign will explore a particular topic in order to educate, signpost and raise awareness.
It also being supported by the Alzheimer’s Society as well as local domestic abuse specialist support services, Paragon and Hampton Trust.
At its heart is the underlying message that help is closer than you think.
Brimble-Brennan: We are here to help
Teresa Brimble-Brennan, the council’s domestic abuse project officer, said,
“This is a very different campaign to what we usually do. We want to reach people who may not realise they need help and signpost them to local support.
“Winter will soon be here and older people may feel alone and isolated once more. We want them to realise that, even if they don’t have family or friends, they do have a community and we are here to help.”
Vulnerable to abuse and unable to defend themselves
Older people can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and unable to defend themselves. Fear and infirmity can be major barriers to seeking and getting help, and sometimes spotting and challenging abuse in the elderly can be difficult.
The campaign reminds people of this issue and where to get help if they are, or think they know someone, who is experiencing this kind of abuse.
Dementia awareness
Another topic will be dementia awareness and early identification — looking at challenging behaviours and how they could be misunderstood.
The campaign also comes at a time when Inclusion, which provides support to people affected by drugs or alcohol, is reporting an increase in referrals from elderly parents seeking support for their adult child.
Living with elderly parent
The campaign will highlight the support available in situations where someone has had to move back home with an elderly parent or have an elderly parent move in.
Teresa added,
“This campaign is about early intervention and being able to give something back to our elderly community who have given so much. This is particularly important on the Isle of Wight which has a higher population of elderly residents than many other areas.
“It’s very much about recognising that we all need help sometimes and appealing to the elderly community to reach out and seek help when they need it. It’s also about asking the community to be a good neighbour, especially in the winter months.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
Image: Danie Franco under CC BY 2.0
