In Australia, elder abuse lurks in the shadows, a form of family violence that devastates older individuals yet remains largely ignored. The heartbreaking deaths of an 87-year-old man and a 95-year-old woman, detailed in recent Victorian coronial findings, cast a harsh spotlight on this crisis.
These cases expose the vulnerabilities of seniors, the betrayal of family trust, and the systemic failures that leave them unprotected. Elder abuse is not just a personal tragedy, it’s a societal failing that demands immediate action.
Elder abuse, any act within a trusted relationship that harms or distresses an older person, affects roughly one in six Australians aged 65 and over, according to the 2021 National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study.
That’s approximately 600,000 seniors facing emotional, financial, physical, or sexual abuse, or neglect each year. Family members – adult children, spouses, or in-laws – are often the perpetrators, making the betrayal deeply personal.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies notes that emotional abuse and financial exploitation are most common, with physical abuse, though less frequent, often proving deadly, as seen in the cases of the 87-year-old man and 95-year-old woman.
Both Greek immigrants who settled in Australia in the 1960s, their stories reveal how abuse festers behind closed doors, exacerbated by frailty, isolation, and systemic gaps. Despite its prevalence, elder abuse remains under-reported, with Seniors Rights Victoria noting that shame, fear, or dependence on abusers silences victims.
Shattered lives: Two tragic stories of elder abuse
The coronial findings lay bare the devastating impact of family violence on seniors, highlighting the personal toll and systemic shortcomings.
In the first case, an 87-year-old man died on 24 November 2020 at the Royal Melbourne Hospital from severe facial fractures inflicted by his daughter-in-law. Living with his wife in their Melbourne home, he was alone on the day of the attack due to his wife’s hospitalisation.
His daughter-in-law, with a history of substance misuse and family violence with the man’s son, assaulted him with an unknown weapon, causing catastrophic injuries, including dislodged teeth and multiple fractures.
Neighbours heard groans and thudding but did not intervene directly. The daughter-in-law was later convicted of murder, sentenced to 27 years.
In the second case, a 95-year-old woman died on 2 January 2022 at The Alfred Hospital from an acute intracranial haemorrhage, likely from blunt force trauma. Living with her son and grandson in Prahran, she had mild dementia, hearing loss, and mobility issues, relying on her son as her primary carer.
Neighbours and a passer-by reported multiple allegations of emotional abuse and threats to kill by her son, often linked to a dispute over her will. On 21 December 2021, she was found distressed outside a pub, fearing her son’s violence.
Despite police attendance, no charges were laid, and she returned home, dying days later.
Shared vulnerabilities and systemic cracks
The two cases reveal parallel vulnerabilities and systemic failures that underscore the complexity of elder abuse:
- Fragile foundations: The plight of vulnerable seniors
- Physical and cognitive frailty: Both victims faced age-related challenges. The man’s partial dementia and the woman’s mild cognitive impairment, hearing loss, and mobility issues limited their ability to seek help or resist abuse. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare confirms that such frailties heighten abuse risk, as victims struggle to report or escape.
- Chains of dependency: Both perpetrators were close family members—the man’s daughter-in-law and the woman’s son—highlighting how reliance on abusers traps victims. The woman’s dependence on her son for care likely deterred reporting, fearing loss of support or institutionalisation. The man’s son’s volatile relationship with the perpetrator created a risky environment.
- Cloaked in isolation: Social isolation amplified vulnerability. The man was alone during his wife’s hospital stay, while the woman’s contact with her other son dwindled due to COVID-19 lockdowns and family tensions. The National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study identifies isolation as a key risk factor, reducing external oversight.
- Fumbled opportunities: Where systems failed
- Police missteps: In the man’s case, a September 2020 police report noted his concerns about his daughter-in-law stealing and damaging property, but it was deemed low risk. A referral to the Victims Support Agency went unprocessed, and Seniors Rights Victoria was not considered. In the woman’s case, police failed to act on reports of abuse in September and December 2021, neglecting to use interpreters, conduct welfare checks, or interview neighbours. Non-compliance with Victoria Police protocols, such as not separating parties or muting body-worn cameras, hindered risk assessment.
- Fragmented support systems: Both cases expose Victoria’s lack of a robust adult safeguarding framework. The woman’s referral to Better Place, sent six weeks after her death, was futile, reflecting delays and under-resourcing. The 2023 defunding of 70% of Better Place’s elder abuse specialists has left only 30% of The Orange Door locations able to refer clients, with waitlists spanning weeks.
- Cultural and systemic barriers: As Greek immigrants, both victims faced language barriers that stifled communication with authorities. The woman’s limited English and her son’s presence during police interactions likely suppressed disclosures. The man’s partial dementia may have led police to downplay his concerns. The Office of the Public Advocate highlights that culturally and linguistically diverse seniors face heightened barriers due to stigma and distrust of systems.
Forging a shield
The coronial findings and broader research point to critical reforms to combat elder abuse:
- Sharpening the frontline: Enhanced police training
Both cases urge Victoria Police to improve training on elder abuse, focusing on seniors’ vulnerabilities, cultural sensitivity, and protocol compliance, like using interpreters and private interviews. The woman’s case recommends modifying body-worn cameras to emit audible alerts when muted, ensuring critical interactions are recorded.
- A safety net for seniors: Adult safeguarding legislation
Victoria’s lack of a comprehensive adult safeguarding framework is a glaring gap. The coroner in the woman’s case endorsed legislation to establish an agency to investigate and coordinate responses to elder abuse, offering risk assessments, safety plans, and advocacy to reduce reliance on under-resourced services or police.
- Breaking the silence: Community awareness campaigns
Public education, as recommended in the woman’s case, can destigmatise reporting and empower communities. The Victorian Government should fund sustained campaigns, like Seniors Rights Victoria’s “Elder Abuse: It’s Not OK,” to promote helplines (1300 368 821) and reach diverse communities.
- Swift and specialised support: Strengthening services
Restoring funding to services like Seniors Rights Victoria and Better Place is crucial. Timely, accurate referrals could have helped both victims. Services must address CALD needs with interpreters and culturally sensitive support to prevent escalation.
- Lifting the veil of isolation: Community programs and telehealth check-ins can reduce isolation, enabling early abuse detection. The Australian Government’s 2024 Aged Care reforms, enhancing home care, could foster independence, reducing reliance on potentially abusive carers.
A rallying cry
The deaths of an 87-year-old man and a 95-year-old woman are stark reminders of the silent epidemic of elder abuse. Their stories expose the lethal interplay of frailty, dependency, and isolation, compounded by systemic failures.
By enacting safeguarding legislation, enhancing police training, raising awareness, and strengthening services, Australia can protect its seniors. Elder abuse thrives in silence, but we can break that silence.
For support, contact Seniors Rights Victoria (1300 368 821) or the National Elder Abuse Helpline (1800 353 374). The time to act is now—before another life is lost to this hidden crisis.
This is an excellent article, inspiring and compelling. The figures and the stories are shocking and cannot be ignored.
The widespread and insidious nature of this problem is clearly articulated in the section titled shared vulnerabilities and systemic cracks, then ways forward are examined, in the section forging a shield. The article concludes with a rallying cry to Victorians.
We need to go further than Victoria, with all Australians speaking out demanding that we urgently incorporate these ideas into all State, Territory and Federal government policies and practices.
Family violence is everybody’s business.
Thank you Jakob
Jane Mears
My mother was assaulted by a family member. I took my mother to the Moorabbin Police Station. The Police told me that they could not do anything because my mother had dementia. Her dementia was relatively mild at that point. My mother got flustered when she was interviewed by the Police by herself and she then refused to press charges. The Police then rang the perpetrator and told him it was “okay”. When I took this person to VCAT he then hired an SC and charged it to my mother. Needless to say I lost the case. What followed was a nightmare of controlling abusive behaviour that went on for years. The Guardianship Act needs to be amended to stop people being both the Guardian and POA. This behaviour destroyed our family.
Everything and anything must be done to protect aged citizens in this country. It’s a dreadful reflection of governmental neglect in some areas. They don’t think they’ll get old, or they think it will be fixed by the time they need care.
Oh my! Too sad.
So very sad, and we as those responsible for the safeguarding of elders in residential care have a responsibility to develop an awareness of any type of abuse by family, POA or others who our residents have contact with.
Having said that, after a senior staff member was “vigorously interrogated” by a barrister at a QCAT hearing instigated by the facility for almost 5 hours and unable to have contact with anyone and not being listened to as explanations were being given
Under duress and without legal representation the member withdrew the complaint, not because it was without merit!
We have now been told that costs will be awarded against the facility
Cannot see us taking this action again as it seems that we will not be heard as we try to champion those in our care