skip to main content
Health and Wellbeing
A Health and Well-being Wales Partner

Elder abuse takes place when an older person is harmed or caused distress by a single or repeated action – or lack of appropriate action – by somebody they should be able to trust.

The charity Hourglass estimates that around one in six older people in the UK are victims of abuse – that’s around one million people over the age of 65.

Elder abuse is more likely to happen when there is an unequal balance of power and the older person is emotionally, physically or financially dependent on their abuser.

The abuser could be a family member – a son, daughter or grandchild – or someone in a professional role, like a paid carer in a residential home or a hospital worker.

Some people may be unable to complain about the abuse, for example, people with dementia, and others may be frightened of the consequences (or not being believed).

Deliberate abuse

Some forms of abuse are deliberate:

  • shouting or hitting someone
  • tampering with medication so the person is easier to look after
  • sexual or domestic abuse
  • leaving someone in soiled clothes or bedding

Or the abuse is opportunistic:

  • taking money or valuables from someone’s home
  • encouraging dependency in return for perceived future benefits, e.g. change of will

Unintentional abuse or neglect

Sometimes, older people can suffer abuse or neglect simply because the people looking after them do not fully understand their needs – or how to meet them.

In residential care or a hospital, elder abuse may be the result of poor training and skills (or even lack of time to spend with someone), for example:

  • clearing food away before the person has finished eating
  • making decisions for someone instead of asking them

If you are looking after someone at home and you are struggling to cope with their needs, it’s important to seek support – for both of you.

Less obvious forms of abuse

Other forms of abuse are less obvious and the perpetrator may not even consider their actions to be abusive (until challenged):

  • taking control of an older person’s finances against their wishes
  • misusing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
  • threatening to isolate someone from family, for example, their grandchildren

Protecting older people from abuse

It is up to everyone to keep older people safe.

If you suspect someone is being abused – or you think you are being abused – you must tell someone immediately.

Contact your council’s Local Safeguarding Team. In an emergency, call 999.

Hourglass lists some of the signs to look out for in older people who are being abused:

Last updated: 02/05/2023