It’s an op-ed that remind readers that one day this will be ‘us’, the head of Monash University’s Health Law and Ageing Research Unit using his characteristically blunt style to urge Australians to work towards a society that respects and values older people.
Labelling elder abuse “a perfect crime” because victims rarely complain and if they do, their complaints are “scarcely heard”, Professor Ibrahim says unlike the recent efforts to address child sex abuse, older people can’t sustain an advocacy campaign as they often die within a year of abuse.
“When they die their story and the impetus for action dies with them,” he says.
He also lambasts the Government for failing to protect older Australians when it comes to accessing aged care.
“Parliament does not listen to nor respect older people enough to make available the essential services needed to maintain them [in] their homes.”
“The quality of care offered to the most vulnerable population in our society is left to market forces."
“These are frail older persons with dementia who need assistance with their personal care and live-in nursing homes.”
“Yet they are often expected to identify which facility and provider could best care for their needs and drive change in the sector – as any other consumer.”
“Government departments do not act – and why remains unclear.”
Professor Ibrahim goes on that without a “Martin Luther King or Emmeline Pankhurst” to lead change, it is up to ordinary Australians to “do the extraordinary”.
“We must commit to action to hold ourselves, our parliament, aged care, legal and social structures to account.”
“These actions include respecting older people, acknowledging they have the same rights as everyone else, enacting and enforcing laws to better protect them from abuse or exploitation, supporting victims to navigate the legal system and restitution so survivors have a life worth living.”
“Your future self, assuming you age successfully, will be the beneficiary.”
You can read the full piece HERE.
