Earlier this week the DCM Institute presented two webinars in partnership with the Retirement Village Residents’ Association of NSW, during which they shared the alarming statistic that two thirds of residents were not aware of their village’s Elder Abuse Policy.
The research paper, titled ‘Ageing Without Fear’, was launched a fortnight ago to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Funded by the NSW Government, the final report details the extent of psychological elder abuse within retirement villages following the survey of 1,259 residents across 120 communities.
In presenting the report’s findings on the specific subject of a village’s Elder Abuse Policy, Roger Pallant, Secretary of the RVRA NSW, went on to say this does not mean the policy doesn’t exist.
“We all know the retirement villages regulations [NSW] requires you to have one,” Roger said.
Roger went on to say that perhaps operators have to inform village managers to communicate the existence of this policy more within their villages.
“The findings of this research are extremely relevant, and extremely real to both Managers of and residents in retirement villages,” said James Wiltshire, Executive Director of the DCM Institute, and moderator of the webinars.
James went on to note that the DCM Institute has seen a increase in traffic within their Knowledge Centre following the webinars with participants in their Village Manager Professional Development Program refreshing themselves on the topic of Elder Abuse, and accessing the policy documentation available.
For more information on DCM Institute’s Village Manager Professional Development Program click here.