Elder abuse is a complex public health and social issue with unique dynamics that require tailored responses.
Elder abuse learning hub
The Elder abuse learning hub has free online training courses for professionals who work with older people, or anyone interested in learning more about elder abuse.
Visit the Elder abuse learning hub.
With respect to age – 2009 guidelines
With respect to age – 2009 is the Victorian Government’s practice guidelines for health services and community agencies for the prevention of elder abuse.
The guidelines have broad multi-sector and multi-discipline applications to help managers, workers and practitioners in health services and community agencies.
As a practical tool, the guidelines:
- suggest how to develop or review service or agency policies and procedures to respond to suspicion or allegation of elder abuse
- support the development or review of local inter-agency elder abuse protocols enabling cooperation between organisations responding to such cases
- provide resources to strengthen services’ response capacity.
Using the guidelines
With respect to age – 2009 is for staff supporting older people in health services such as:
- hospitals including emergency departments and rehabilitation
- subacute and community health services including nursing, allied health and counselling services provided in the home and other community settings.
They also can be used by community agencies such as local government, Victoria Police, not-for-profit organisations and private organisations.