The document discusses referrals of financial abuse to Ireland's Health Service Executive Elder Abuse Service between 2007-2014. It provides statistics on the number of referrals received each year, which have steadily increased. The majority of referrals are for females over 80 years of age living at home. For substantiated cases of financial abuse, adult children are the most common perpetrators, followed by partners. Over half of perpetrators live with the victim. Senior case workers work with victims and their families to address elder abuse situations.

1. Bridget McDaid
Senior Safeguarding & Older Persons Officer
Data Analysis: Marguerite Clancy, Senior Research and Information Officer
Referrals of Financial Abuse to the HSE
Elder Abuse Service

2. Elder Abuse Service
 Established 2007
 National Elder Abuse Steering Committee
 31 Senior Case Workers posts

3. Elder Abuse Referrals
 Senior Case Workers are providing statistical data (anonymised) on
each referral.
 The information is used to
◦ generate monthly reports on referrals and contributes to the monthly
dataset on older persons.
◦ perform statistical analysis and provide insight into patterns of elder
abuse in Ireland.
◦ inform the HSE Elder Abuse Service Annual Report

4. Elder Abuse Referrals
 Capturing all elder abuse referrals to HSE
◦ Record of initial referral
 Gender, age, abuse type, alleged person causing concern, place
residence
◦ Follow-up
 Abuse substantiated, interventions,
 consultation, Gardaí involvement
 legal action

5. Number of Referrals
 2007: 927 referrals
 2008: 1887 referrals
 2009: 1916 referrals
 2010: 2111 referrals
 2011: 2302 referrals
 2012: 2460 referrals
 2013: 2437 referrals
 2014: 2592 referrals

6. Abuse types alleged 2010 -2014
12,152 referrals

7. Abuse types alleged - with a person causing
concern
2010-2014

8. Source of Financial Abuse Referrals 2010-2014

9. Profile of Clients – Financial Abuse Referrals 2010-
2014
 63% female
 increasing REFERRALS over 80 years (54%)
 78% live at home,
 11% in private NH
 5% public continuing care
 4% in relatives home
 Abuse occurs in place of residence (93%)

10. Substantiated cases 2010-2015
In one third of all closed cases the abuse was substantiated.
Sexual , 1%
Discriminatory, 0%
Physical, 18%
Psychological, 45%
Financial, 20%
Neglect , 15%

11. Substantiated Financial abuse (2013-2014)
n = 540

12. Profile of Perpetrators for Substantiated cases 2010-2014
48%
18%
52%
45%
55%
29%
12%
23%
6%
21%
9%
8%
13%
18%
14%
2%
4%
12%
5%
12%
2%
5%
12%
4%
7%
5%
3%
29%
2%
9%
9%
1
1
1
1
2
2
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Physical
Sexual
Psychology
Financial
Neglect
Son/
Daughter
Partner Other Relative In Law Neighbour Friend Carer
/Staff
Other
Service User
Other

13. Gender of Perpetrators for Substantiated cases 2010-2014
63%
75%
61%
55%
53%
34%
21%
33%
33%
34%
4%
7%
8%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Physical
Sexual
Psychology
Financial
Neglect
Male Female Male & Female

14. Perpetrator living with Client - for Substantiated cases 2010-
2014
63%
44%
61%
30%
67%
31%
56%
33%
64%
28%
6%
6%
6%
5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Physical
Sexual
Psychology
Financial
Neglect
Yes No Sometimes

15. Senior Case Workers for the Protection of Older
People
 Social workers
 Work with the older Person and their families to try and find solutions
 Multi disciplinary and inter agency working
 Respond to needs and wishes of the older person
 Focus on improving the situation and not on solely determining if
abuse did / did not take place.

16. Interventions

17. Contacting the Senior Case Worker in
your area
HSE information line: 1850 24 1850
Or
www.hse.ie/go/elderabuse