Wokingham

More than 340,000 older people living in their own homes reported being abused or mistreated in the UK last year – and Wokingham Borough Council is using World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - Sunday June 15 - to highlight their plight locally.

The Wokingham borough council has produced posters and information to highlight the problem of elder abuse in the run-up to the day and has arranged for Sunny Arts Theatre to perform its dramatic play and interactive training session Someone To Watch Over Me at Wokingham Theatre on Wednesday June 18.

The production uses a powerful play about an older dementia sufferer, Phyllis, who becomes a victim of abuse after moving in with her son-in-law. After the play there will be an interactive training session to explore the issue of elder abuse. Someone To Watch Over Me is aimed specifically at individuals and organisations who work with vulnerable older people, but the themes it explores will be of concern to all borough residents.

The posters produced by Wokingham Borough Council to highlight elder abuse reveal some stark statistics, such as that 130 incidents of elder abuse were reported in the Wokingham Borough in the past year, a number that is increasing every year. And to tackle the problem, the borough council is forming a partnership - the Wokingham Safeguarding Adults Forum - with older people, carers and service providers to prevent abuse and to support those who have been abused.

The new forum will provide a valuable opportunity for Wokingham Borough Council residents and organisations to meet, share concerns and discuss ways of helping keep people safe. It will link with the existing multi-agency Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board, which covers the west of Berkshire.

The main forms elder abuse takes are:

Neglect – such as repeated failure of a designated carer to provide help

Financial abuse – such as theft, fraud or misuse of power of attorney

Psychological abuse – such as persistent insults or threats

Physical abuse – such as violence, physical restraint or misuse of medication

Sexual abuse – such as verbal harassment, inappropriate touching or even rape

Executive member for Wokingham social care Cllr Chris Edmunds said: “It is disgraceful that any older person is abused – and the fact that so many are victims is shocking. I am glad a safeguarding partnership is being established but would also urge anybody who suspects elder abuse may be happening to contact the council or the police as soon as possible.”

For more information, or to report any suspected elder abuse, call Wokingham Borough Council on 0118 974 6800.

Wokingham Borough Council