Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Katie Woolf spoke with Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA) Co-chair Dierdre Timms

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Katie Woolf spoke with Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA) Co-chair Dierdre Timms · 360 with Katie Woolf

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: While many of us are getting really happy and excited
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: about Christmas being just days away, there is just a
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: reminder for everybody about elder abuse and the prevention. There
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: is an organization out there which launches well, they've launched
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: a national campaign and website to provide information and some
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: practical advice for us to respond and also prevent elder abuse.
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: And we know that with the pandemic it has created
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: some rising financial stress for a lot of people, and
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: there's more children likely to move back in with their
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: older parents, and there's also a situation in some families
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: where the elderly have obviously.
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: Had to move in with their children.
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: So there are those growing concerns about the potential for
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: increases in elder abuse. Now joining me on the line
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  Speaker 1: to talk more about this Elder Abuse Action Australia co
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: chair Deirdre Tims.
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Deardre.
• 0:53
  Speaker 3: Good morning Katie.
• 0:54
  Speaker 2: Deardre.
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: Can you tell us a little bit more about you
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: know about this situation and what we've seen happened throughout
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: the pandemic.
• 1:03
  Speaker 4: Yes, as I'm sure you and business would appreciate, many
• 1:09
  Speaker 4: people have been very isolated during the pandemic and this
• 1:13
  Speaker 4: has had a huge impact, particularly on older people.
• 1:17
  Speaker 3: Who have been have really struggled to maintain social contact.
• 1:23
  Speaker 3: And sometimes it's that social contact that actually keeps them
• 1:28
  Speaker 3: safe because there's another set of eyes and ears in
• 1:32
  Speaker 3: the house and they're touching base with other people outside
• 1:35
  Speaker 3: the home. So we've seen some increases in the elder
• 1:40
  Speaker 3: abuse across the country, and this would also be as
• 1:45
  Speaker 3: a result of increased financial pressures and emotional pressures on
• 1:51
  Speaker 3: family members. Most perpetrators of elder abuse are family members,
• 1:56
  Speaker 3: adult children or grandchildren.
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: Isn't that sad?
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: You know, it's a really tough situation. I know that
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: there is a lot of stress on families at this
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: time of the year, but gee, that's a tough situation
• 2:09
  Speaker 1: that some families are in where you know, the elders
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: in their family are then not being treated with the
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: respect that they deserve.
• 2:19
  Speaker 3: Oh. Absolutely, And what if I talk to people about this,
• 2:23
  Speaker 3: you know, they'll often come back to me and say that, well,
• 2:26
  Speaker 3: that's my grannie, And I said, so, yes, it is
• 2:30
  Speaker 3: your grannie and you should be looking after her. And
• 2:34
  Speaker 3: what I'd like people to think about, I think elder
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  Speaker 3: abuses everybody's business. We've all got a part to play,
• 2:41
  Speaker 3: because we all need to make sure that we're looking
• 2:44
  Speaker 3: after the older people in our lives, whether they're family members,
• 2:48
  Speaker 3: somebody who happens to live in your street, someone who
• 2:51
  Speaker 3: goes to the same library you go to, whatever it
• 2:54
  Speaker 3: might be, make sure you take the time over this
• 2:57
  Speaker 3: holiday festive season to wish them a merry Christmas, check in,
• 3:02
  Speaker 3: see how they are, drop them a card, anything, something
• 3:05
  Speaker 3: to communicate so that they know they're not alone. I
• 3:09
  Speaker 3: think it's really important at this time.
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, and I know that obviously the Elder Abuse
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: Action Australia, your group, your organization, it is nationwide. But
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: here in the territory, I guess you'd say we've been
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: quite lucky in the sense that, you know, for many
• 3:25
  Speaker 1: of us, we are still able to see family members
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: and able to still have those gatherings within the territory.
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: But the fact that plenty of people haven't been able
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: to actually see their family who are into state, you know,
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: sort of stepping away, I guess from the elder abuse
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: and talking more about the loneliness, I suppose that some
• 3:42
  Speaker 1: of our seniors might be feeling it's been a really
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: tough year for seniors all around. Australia hasn't it.
• 3:49
  Speaker 3: Absolutely and loneliness can have a terrible impact on health
• 3:54
  Speaker 3: and well being. Research has indicated that it can have
• 3:58
  Speaker 3: the equivalent impact on your health as smoking fifteen cigarettes
• 4:02
  Speaker 3: to day. I mean that's a serious health impact.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: Wow, And it's.
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  Speaker 3: Really yeah, it's really important that we actually state the
• 4:11
  Speaker 3: older people and I always say a lot of the
• 4:14
  Speaker 3: things we enjoy today have actually been built by the
• 4:17
  Speaker 3: older members of our community. We need to remember that
• 4:21
  Speaker 3: and focus on that. I'm very proud of the work
• 4:24
  Speaker 3: that we've been able to do. We've been supported by
• 4:27
  Speaker 3: the Attorney General's Department to develop knowledge Hub. So that's
• 4:32
  Speaker 3: a website and it's called Compass dot info that contains
• 4:39
  Speaker 3: the best information for people who maybe it elder abuse,
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  Speaker 3: or maybe you're just not sure and you want some
• 4:46
  Speaker 3: more information, or you're concerned about a family member or a
• 4:49
  Speaker 3: friend and you want to know where a service is.
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  Speaker 3: And I will say that there is a National Elder
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  Speaker 3: Abuse Help Line and that's one eight hundred three five
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  Speaker 3: three three seven four. Now it's it's this line, but
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  Speaker 3: it's a line you can phone and it drops down
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  Speaker 3: to your state or territory. Supporting organizations so I say
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  Speaker 3: it's not a crisis line. If it's an emergency, you
• 5:15
  Speaker 3: still need to ring Triple zero. Yep. But if you
• 5:17
  Speaker 3: want more information older person who just like to talk
• 5:21
  Speaker 3: about the situation, these calls are free and confidential.
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: I think that's good advice for people and dedre.
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  Speaker 1: Are there different things that we can do as well,
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  Speaker 1: you know, to reach out to the seniors in our
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  Speaker 1: community who maybe we know are alone around Christmas or
• 5:39
  Speaker 1: that they're not able to see their family or friends.
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: Are there different things that we're able to do to
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: sort of help them.
• 5:47
  Speaker 3: Yes, absolutely, just just check in, you know, drop a
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  Speaker 3: note in a letterbox, or make you know, well you're
• 5:57
  Speaker 3: walking past their house, say hello, you know, ask them
• 6:01
  Speaker 3: what they're doing, even invite them in if you're fortunate,
• 6:04
  Speaker 3: if you're in Northern Territory and actually I'm based in Wa,
• 6:08
  Speaker 3: so we've been very fortunate in the COVID situation as well,
• 6:12
  Speaker 3: able to have you know, family and friends around. So
• 6:16
  Speaker 3: if you're at all possible, have some contact.
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  Speaker 2: Well.
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  Speaker 3: Some organized age care providers community age care providers have
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  Speaker 3: been doing is developing it so people can use soon
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  Speaker 3: or or Skype or FaceTime or something help with that
• 6:33
  Speaker 3: they can talk to relatives and friends.
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's been.
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: A great thing to see and obviously makes it a
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: little bit easier for those people who aren't physically able
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: to see their family members. I thought i'd seen as
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: well nationally, and I don't correct me if I'm wrong,
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  Speaker 1: but I thought i'd seen that there was a bit
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: of an initiative in one of the states where they
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: had some of the seniors in one of the age
• 6:56
  Speaker 1: care homes actually connecting with some of the school kids,
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: so I able to have a bit of a chat
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: to some of the youngsters, which I thought was a
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: novel idea.
• 7:05
  Speaker 3: There was a wonderful program of very young children, I
• 7:10
  Speaker 3: think our preschool children visiting age care facilities and just
• 7:16
  Speaker 3: absolutely lights up an older person's day. And younger people
• 7:20
  Speaker 3: are you know, what do they say something about out
• 7:24
  Speaker 3: of the truth, coming out of the mouths of young people, out.
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: Of the mouths of babes.
• 7:31
  Speaker 3: I think, yeah, yeah, that's the phrase. They're just just
• 7:35
  Speaker 3: very very straight and entertaining that. It was a wonderful program. Yea,
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  Speaker 3: there are lots of things happening, and I just really
• 7:44
  Speaker 3: encourage people to, you know, be bold and say hello,
• 7:50
  Speaker 3: you know, if ever I'm passing an older person, I
• 7:52
  Speaker 3: say hello, you might be the only person they've spoken
• 7:54
  Speaker 3: to you that day.
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: Oh that's such a you know, that's such good advice.
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  Speaker 1: And I remember when my great dad was still alive
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: and my mum had taken him out. We lived in
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: another state and she took him out for a pie
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: and took him out for the day, and he'd said
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: to my mum, you know, that's one of the best
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: days that I've had this year. It might not mean
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: a lot to you, but it means a lot to
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  Speaker 1: an old bloke like me, and I'll always remember that.
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  Speaker 1: And I think it's really important that we look after
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: our seniors.
• 8:21
  Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, yeah, anything.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, Deardre, it's lovely to speak to you this morning.
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  Speaker 1: Thanks very much for having a chat to us and
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: letting us know about some of the different things that
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: we can do to ensure that the older people in
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: our community are supported. Just remind us of that website
• 8:37
  Speaker 1: once more if you can, so that if there is
• 8:39
  Speaker 1: anybody out there listening, they can jump on it if
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: they're keen.
• 8:44
  Speaker 3: Yes, it's Compass dot info. And I'll also just remind
• 8:48
  Speaker 3: you of that National Elder views helped line one eight
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  Speaker 3: hundred three five three seven four.
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: Good stuff.
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: Well, Deirdre, I really appreciate you chatting with me this morning.
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: Thanks so much for your time.
• 9:03
  Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you.
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: Have a lovely Christmas and you too, thank you.
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: And well I have just been sent a message as
• 9:12
  Speaker 1: well from Angus Copeland Walters. Now he is a young
• 9:17
  Speaker 1: fellow behind Crop Candy and he's going to be donating
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: and giving out candy and bond bonds to the residents
• 9:23
  Speaker 1: at Pearl in Fanny Bay on Christmas Day, to those
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: who may be alone. That's a lovely thing to hear.
• 9:30
  Speaker 1: Good on you, Angus, That's such a nice thing to do.
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: And I've also been sent a couple of different programs
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: here in the territory as well by mel And. She
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: said that anglericare Entt have a Community Visitors scheme. So
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: it's a national program that connects volunteers with older people
• 9:48
  Speaker 1: at risk of social or cultural isolation. It's funded by
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: the Department of Social Services and offered by Angler Care
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  Speaker 1: nt in Darwin, Palmerston, Catherine, Alice Springs and Tenant Creek.
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: Volunteers can visit someone at least once a fortnight, providing
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: friendship and links to the local community. Visits are available
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  Speaker 1: to anyone who receives a government funded residential, aged care
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: or home care package and who feels socially isolated and
• 10:15
  Speaker 1: or lonely. Now, if you're interested in the service or
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: becoming a volunteer, you can actually contact you can contact
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: the Community Visitors scheme.
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: Now.
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: The best number to do that on is eight nine
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: two eight zero six two zero, And that sounds like
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: a fantastic initiative. I think it's really important for us
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: all at this time of the year to make sure,
• 10:39
  Speaker 1: as you heard then from Deirdre, if you do have
• 10:42
  Speaker 1: a an older person living in your street who you
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: know is alone and you're able to reach out to them,
• 10:48
  Speaker 1: maybe you're able to, you know, to go over and
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: say get a make sure that they are all right.
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: So many of us have been separated from our families
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: this year, and I just think it's a good thing
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: for us all to do to keep an eye out
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: for one another