Elder abuse is alarmingly widespread. According to the World Health Organization, one in six people aged 60 and over globally experience some form of abuse every year. This includes physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect – often by people in positions of trust.
This includes physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect – often by people in positions of trust. Crucially, most cases go undetected and unreported – according to the UN, only one in 24 elder abuse cases is reported.
Abuse thrives in environments of silence, secrecy, and social isolation. Older people who are cut off from others, whether due to physical distance,
disability, ageism, or lack of digital access, may have fewer opportunities to seek help – or to even recognise that what they are experiencing is abuse.
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