Aged care or aged control: Tackling risk of coercive abuse for Australia’s elderly
Older Australians are at risk of coercive control, and new research has highlighted how systems in place to protect the elderly are actually being used to manipulate them.
The research partnership by CQUniversity, Charles Sturt University and Three Rivers Department of Rural Health heard from family, friends and health professionals who had supported older Australians experiencing coercive control.
The researchers are highlighting the often-hidden issue ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Monday 15 June.
Understanding coercive control
The Australian Government defines coercive control as “someone (using) patterns of abusive behaviour against another person… (to create) fear and take away the person’s freedom and independence.”
While the dynamic almost always underpins family and domestic violence, CQU Social Work academic Dr Helen Hickson says it also informs some elder abuse, potentially at the hands of carers, paid helpers, friends or community members.
But the research showed concerned family members hit barriers, confidentiality rules and no answers when they sought help from police, health care services, and the Guardianship Tribunal.
“We heard very sad stories of family members who tried many times to access help for their elderly relative. They told us that they were not believed, there was no action taken and in some cases there was suspicion placed on the person reporting their concerns,” she said.
“It’s clear there are gaps with coercive control legislation, when it goes beyond intimate partner relationships.”
Shifting the conversation
Next month, Dr Hickson and CQU and CSU Adjunct Associate Professor Maree Bernoth will present the research at the Australian Elder Abuse Conference on the Gold Coast.
Dr Hickson’s presentation topic is Listening to what’s not said: Strengthening health responses for older adults.
She says these systems need stronger safeguards against psychological abuse, financial abuse and coercive control, and trauma-informed responses where issues are identified.
“Because coercive control is often hidden, or deliberately covert, there’s a lack of awareness about the various ways older people might need protections,” Dr Hickson said.
“The language of coercive control in older adults is different and words like victim or survivor don’t quite fit when we are talking about a parent/ child relationship for instance, or client/ carer.
“Limited definitions of coercive control mean that health professionals are less likely to recognise the behaviors and report potentially criminal behaviors… and meanwhile, the coercive control is having a range of serious health impacts on the older person being isolated and victimised.
“We hope this research provides an evidence-based definition of coercive control to support greater consistency managing behaviours, pursuing criminal charges, and improving healthcare and social policy.”
Dr Hickson and Assoc Prof Bernoth co-authored the research with CQU School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences academics Assoc Prof Catherine Hungerford, Assoc Prof Denise Blanchard and Assoc Prof Heather Lovatt.
The research has been published in the Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect.
