This week, we are talking about the issue of elder abuse in retirement villages.
By definition, retirement villages are populated by older citizens, and occasionally the RVRA receives reports alleging elder abuse. The abusive behaviour can be initiated by residents, village staff, visitors to the village or even a resident’s family members.
The law governing the operation of retirement villages in NSW lays down rules of conduct that village operators and their staff must observe. The rules are designed to establish the standards of conduct and behaviour that are expected of operators and their staff in relation to the management and operation of a retirement village, including a knowledge of relevant laws.
One of these rules requires operators to prepare and give effect to a strategy for the identification and prevention of any elder abuse in the retirement village from any source. A copy of the strategy must be posted on the notice board of the retirement village, and all the operator’s staff are required to be familiar with the strategy.
As a bare minimum, the strategy is required to illustrate the potential scope of the problem by providing examples of common forms of elder abuse as well as specific examples in relation to retirement villages.
Information is also required:
(a) on how to identify elder abuse including signs of elder abuse, and how to prevent elder abuse,
(b) on ways to respond to elder abuse or concerns about suspected elder abuse (including procedures for reporting abuse and escalating matters to appropriate organisations and authorities, and response times), and
(c) to provide guidance for accessing the services and resources of the NSW Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit, the Ageing and Disability Commissioner and other relevant local services and support agencies.
An explanation of the roles and responsibilities of the operator and of the operator’s staff in relation to elder abuse in the retirement village must also be provided.
An operator must review the strategy every two years.
Elder abuse can come from many quarters, and the strategy should be developed so that everyone in a retirement village can recognise cases that emerge and know what to do about it. The RVRA and village operator organisations will always cooperate to ensure this happens.
Learn more about the RVRA HERE.
