A new national report backed by Monash University research has found abuse of older adults in regional, rural and remote Australian communities is overwhelmingly committed by the victim-survivor’s child or partner. Funded by the Attorney-General’s Department, the landmark study is the first of its kind to analyse the unique challenges faced by older adults experiencing abuse living outside major cities.
Contrasting with previous national findings, the study also identified financial abuse as the most common form of harm observed by professionals supporting older adults experiencing abuse and older adults with lived experience. This is likely exacerbated by the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and natural disasters.
Beyond financial gain, motivations for abuse included a desire for power and control, often rooted in longstanding family conflict or the perpetrator's dependence on the older adult for financial assistance and housing – particularly in cases where adult children experience mental health concerns or substance abuse.
Associate Professor Bridget Harris, Deputy Head of School (Research) and Lead Researcher with the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Hub, said while non-urban living doesn’t inherently make someone more likely to experience abuse, it can increase vulnerability and make it harder to find support.
“Older adults in these communities face geographic isolation, making it difficult to reach support networks or health services, a problem often compounded by sparse, expensive or non-existent transport options,” Associate Professor Harris said.
“Socially, more traditional views around gender roles can result in abuse being minimised as a ‘private family matter,’ while the lack of privacy in small towns creates a profound fear of gossip and stigma that silences those needing help.”
The study captured insights from focus groups and interviews with professionals and adult-victim survivors. The study explores forms of abuse experienced by older adults, patterns of victimisation and perpetration, the help-seeking experiences of older adults, as well as service gaps and opportunities to strengthen service systems.
The report provides an evidence base to enhance prevention and response efforts, emphasising the need for locally tailored solutions that provide support through trusted community organisations where older adults already feel safe. A key recommendation is reimagining service delivery by embedding legal and elder abuse specialists directly within healthcare settings to provide more accessible, holistic care.
While advances in technology have increased technology-facilitated abuse, the study suggests harnessing technology provides an opportunity to bridge service gaps to ensure older adults are protected.
Dr Naomi Pfitzner, co-author and Director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Hub, said the study highlights that older adults in regional areas experiencing abuse face unique challenges that require a specific, localised approach.
“To truly address this issue, we need integrated models that support the whole family so older Australians feel safe, are respected and are empowered to maintain family relationships, including with the person using violence, where appropriate,” Dr Pfitzner said.
“By challenging ageism at a systemic level and ensuring victim-survivors are supported through local networks, we can ensure older Australians feel safe and valued in their communities.”
This project was funded by the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies is hosting its annual conference - Changing Families in Changing Times. Associate Professor Bridget Harris and Dr Naomi Pfitzner will feature on a panel on elder abuse sponsored by the Attorney-General's Department, where they will discuss the findings from this report. The panel takes place on Friday 11 September at 11am and is called the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People.
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