The Health Service Executive has developed an elder abuse service in order to help prevent and combat elder abuse in all its forms. There are now specialist staff, employed by the HSE through the Local Health Offices, dealing with cases of elder abuse. Abuse can take a number of forms. The more identifiable forms include physical and sexual abuse. But other forms of abuse do happen, including financial abuse and neglect. All abuse is abhorrent and has no place in a civilised society.We must continue to help and support older people who are victims of abuse, and also challenge negative and stereotypical attitudes generated towards older people in general.

This document describes the main developments of the HSE's elder abuse service in 2008 as well as providing, for the first time, a detailed analysis of elder abuse referrals to the HSE.

The HSE continues to make significant progress in combating all forms of elder abuse in our society. The HSE's Elder Abuse Service document which is available to read or download below outlines the important developments made over the past 12 months in relation to this issue.

Specialist staff, working through Local Health Offices, are daily raising public awareness of the problem of elder abuse. Some of the developments aimed at highlighting the problem include the appointment of a number of Senior Case Workers, a public awareness campaign in relation to elder abuse, the establishment of a National Centre for the Protection of Older People in UCD and the compilation of detailed data on reported abuse in this country.

While progress has been made, the HSE acknowledges that its efforts must continue in order to improve and further develop its services and work in collaboration with other agencies in the fight against elder abuse.

"The HSE is committed to protecting older people from all forms of abuse, regardless of where it occurs or who the perpetrators might be," Frank Murphy, Chairman of the HSE's National Elder Abuse Steering Committee said.

Over time, the collection and collation of elder abuse data will prove invaluable in informing the planning and delivery of services for older people. The HSE will continue to develop its data collection systems in 2009 and beyond.

Download: HSE Elder Abuse service developments 2008 - Open your eyes