The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission (ADC) has released its latest data for 2024-25 and it makes for grim reading.

The ADC has reported a 22% year-on-year increase in reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older people and adults with disability, with 5,864 statutory reports received in 2024-25, up from 4,806 in 2023-24.

Since 2019-20, the number of reports has risen 155%, a jump the NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner Jeff Smith has labelled "a powerful reminder that abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older people and adults with disability is a critical issue that demands our collective attention and action."

In total, the Commission fielded 17,527 calls to its Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline during the year.

RVRA seeking to raise awareness

The release of the data follows ongoing efforts by the NSW Retirement Village Residents Association (RVRA) to address resident wellbeing and safety in retirement villages.

A 2023 RVRA survey of over 1,200 residents across 120 NSW villages, titled Ageing Without Fear, found 40% of residents had experienced abuse: primarily from other residents or family members, and secondly from operators.  

In response, the RVRA partnered with the DCM Institute to host two webinars on the research results last year. The RVRA also co-developed a one-page Statement of Respect with the NSW Ageing & Disability Commission and the Property Council of Australia’s peak body for retirement villages, the Retirement Living Council, to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

RVRA President Craig Bennett and Vice-President Roger Pallant met again with Jeff and his team last month.

"Our numbers don’t show an increase but that may not be surprising as most abuse is resident on resident and they often don’t get reported or made known to us," Roger told The Weekly SOURCE. "The ones we do hear about can be very distressing and confronting for the resident but also us as we try to help."

Roger said the RVRA is hopeful of further collaboration with the ADC, and urged Village Managers to prominently display the Statement of Respect so residents know support is available.