An innovative aged care model that has virtually eliminated resident falls is being used to inform new strategies for North East Victoria.
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The initiative was outlined as among the steps being taken to transform care locally at a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event in Wangaratta.
WEAAD was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2011 and falls on June 15 to recognise the physical, social and financial mistreatment and neglect of older people, by someone they know or trust.
Wodonga advocate Maria Berry lead the Border event at Gateway Health on Saturday on behalf of Seniors Rights Victoria.
Among those present was Kathleen Brasher, principal lead of Age Friendly Northeast Victoria, a project aiming to better respond to the ageing population.
Dr Brasher said the 'Four Ms' model that originated from the John A Hartford Foundation in the United Sates was being used to inform the work of the Age Friendly team.
"A hospital in the U.S. implemented the model and they haven't had a fall in four years," she said.
"There's been improved functional outcomes for older people; they haven't solved the falls by keeping them locked in bed.
"They have a team of volunteers that come in to help the older people walk, they get them up to go to the toilet over night and break their sleep, so they don't have an urgency when they get up in the morning.
"Their aim is to have 20 per cent of the U.S. health system using it by 2020, and they're well on the way to that.
"We're riding on their coat-tails and we're the only place outside of the U.S. at the moment."
Dr Brasher said the 'Four Ms' model was being adjusted to rural Victoria, to focus on 'what matters, mental health, medication and mobility'.
"We've looked at all of the evidence of what works and it comes down to four things; that we act on what matters to that person, that we think about their mental health, how much medication they are on, and are they being mobile in the best way the can?" she said.
"What the evidence shows worldwide is that if you work on those things, then every interaction will significantly reduce the harm done to old people.
"Because we know older people are disproportionately harmed by being in hospital."
The Age Friendly Northeast Victoria project, encompassing hospitals and health services, is half-way through its funding and the structure of an alliance is being finalised.
In the Ovens Murray area, the number of older people will double in the next decade and more than one in four people will be over 65 years of age.
Elder abuse can occur in health and aged care services, but also closer to home.
Senior Rights Victoria documented 455 cases from 2000 to 2014, though the true incidence is expected to be much higher.
In almost 70 per cent of cases the perpetrator was a child of the older person and financial and emotional abuse were the top two most common experiences.
The Victorian government, in announcing on Saturday an advertising campaign and a Elder Abuse Prevention Network Framework, said up to 14 per cent of older people may experience elder abuse.
Wodonga-based Shine at Business director Dianna Jacobsen said seeing the damage done by poor business and financial planning had prompted her to focus on farm succession planning that considers protections for older clients.
"I see a lot of elderly people on farms in absolute poverty because they own a very valuable asset and they're excluded from getting home help, aged care and medical concessions," she said.
"I see a huge disconnect between conversations that accountants and bank managers have; there's no integrated approach.
"They (farmers) leave it because it's a black or white decision to them as to whether they sell the farm and lose the home, or stay and live in poverty, and that's not right.
"There's a lot of middle ground, but accountants don't necessarily have training in aged care and solicitors don't have training in tax rules and it becomes a problem by default without it being intentional."
These gaps opened up Maria Berry's father to manipulation.
"I can see everything Diana is talking about; now having more wisdom and being out of that emotional circle it was at the time," she said.
With many changes identified by an Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry into elder abuse yet to be implemented, Older Persons Advocacy Network educator Maree Montgomery said better regulations and awareness were overdue.
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"There is support to raise awareness and it is sadly part of our community," she said.
"Some people only associate elder abuse with the physical abuse.
"There's a lot of work going on around that and we're trying to find a common language for the term, as 'elder' is not as comfortable either."
During the event others shared their thoughts around what elder abuse constitutes and how awareness can be raised.
Glen Modra's mother was an example of the benefits of healthy ageing.
"She is 101 and she's in a wheelchair and hard of hearing, but she doesn't take medication and is very lively, doing crosswords everyday," she said.
Wangaratta mayor Ken Clarke, who took part in the inaugural Embolden Festival last year, said older people also needed to be better at speaking out.
"We have about 70 members in my probus club and there's a reluctance sometimes from the men who live on their own to let people know they need some help," he said.
Ms Montgomery said looking for signs of abuse or neglect was important.
"We need to know who who Mavis is down the road and be aware of our community members," she said.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing elder abuse please call Seniors Rights Victoria on 1300 368 821
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