A staggering 10,000 elderly people across Northern Ireland have experienced abuse at the hands of close relatives, friends or care workers, charities have estimated.

Women are suffering most, with many being physically and mentally tormented by adult sons and daughters.

Financial and sexual abuse is also rife, with the majority of complaints coming from pensioners between the ages of 70 and 79.

Uniting Against Elder Abuse (UAEA) – which is made up of Age Concern, Help the Aged, The Alzheimer’s Society and Carers Northern Ireland – has warned that more than 60 per cent of their clients are too afraid to report their perpetrators to social services or the police.

Last year, The Irish News revealed that the north’s then four health boards had dealt with

almost 1,200 complaints from vulnerable pensioners over a five-year period.

In the Belfast area alone, cases had more than trebled.

Many of the referrals were victims of GBH assaults – mainly older women, who were punched or threatened by sons with mental health or drug problems.

But UAEA believes there is massive unreporting of elder abuse due to the vulnerability of pensioners and the shame they feel in bringing charges against their adult children.

Since setting up two years ago, UAEA has supported 84 people who otherwise may not have contacted police.

Many of these cases are now going through the courts.

It is receiving two to three calls a week from distressed pensioners who are mainly suffering neglect and financial abuse.

The charities are trying to raise awareness of the problem to coincide with World Elder Abuse day today.

A 2007 study carried out by King’s College in London estimates that as many as 10,000 people are being neglected or abused across the north each year.

Claire Keatinge of UAEA said many people don’t report abuse because they may fear no-one will believe them or they may rely on their abuser for care and are fearful of the consequences.

“In cases where a person has dementia, they might be unable to fully understand and communicate what is happening to them and thus the reported figure of 10,000 is a likely to be a conservative figure,” she said.

“Thirty five per cent of adults in Northern Ireland have not heard of the term ‘elder abuse’ and 21 per cent do not know if they would be able to recognise if an older person they knew was being abused.

“It is therefore vital that our awareness of elder abuse and its indicators is increased.

“Where abuse does occur, Uniting Against Elder Abuse aims to ensure that older people, their family, friends and carers, know where to go for help and support, and have the confidence to do so.

“If you have experienced, witnessed or suspect abuse, it is important to take action.”

- For more information or advice contact: Age Concern Help the Aged NI SeniorLine on 0808 808 7575; Advice and Advocacy Service, 028 9032 5055; The Alzheimer’s Society on 028 9066 4100 and Carers Northern Ireland 028 9043 9843.