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Reports of elderly abuse increase by 16 per cent

The number of reports of elderly people being abused is on the rise, according to latest figures.

In 2011 the National Platform for Combating Abuse of the Elderly (Landelijk Platform Bestrijding Ouderenmishandeling) received 994 reports of abuse, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year.

The majority of reports were made by professional carers. In nearly half the cases – 43 per cent – the abuser was a child or grandchild.

It is unclear how far the increase can be attributed to victims being more prepared to come forward.

Marlies van Veldhuijzen van Zanten, junior minister for well-being, said it was an encouraging sign that mistreatment of the elderly was no longer a taboo subject.

“This is the beginning of the solution,” she said, adding that people were becoming more aware of what to do if they suffered or had evidence of abuse.

The minister is due to launch a new campaign on Friday in collaboration with organisations representing older people, with the title The Elderly in Safe Hands.

Source: De Volkskrant: Meer meldingen mishandeling van ouderen

Photo by Roel Wijnants