If you need emergency services, please contact 000
Are you feeling burnt out? Consider aged care respite.
Looking for a rewarding career in aged care and ready to start now?
View our current retirement living homes for sale.
Search
Contact Us
Close
14 locations across Victoria
Principles of Montessori
Tailored to individual interests
All your questions answered
Government or privately funded
Government-funded support
Entry-level home care services
Launching 1 November 2025
Services to keep you independent
One on one care and support
Support to help you stay at home
Allied health support services
Everyone deserves a break
Connect with others
Help to access support services
If you care for someone, we’re here
Maintain your quality of life
Here for people of all ages
Take a break and have some fun
Get all your questions answered
Independent living for over 55s
Welcoming and safe communities
Everyone deserves a home
Our latest properties available
Inner Melbourne communities
Camberwell
Deepdene
Kew
Hawthorn
Toorak
Suburban communities
Clayton
Point Cook
Bacchus Marsh
Pakenham
Greensborough
Torquay
Friendly and welcoming villages
Kyneton
Trentham
Eltham
Brunswick West
Support for children and adults
Take a step to paid employment
Work at a cafe
Gardening and maintenance
Learn woodwork skills
Work at a VMCH Op Shop
Centre and community programs
Skills, confidence and friendships
For children and teenagers
Supported co-living
Accommodation across Victoria
In your home and community
Get the best out of your plan
For babies, children and young people
Allied health practice
Participate in everyday tasks
Better communication skills
Address challenging behaviours
Shop from our social enterprises
Coffee with purpose
Pieces handcrafted by participants
Buy pre-loved goods
Helping people with disability
Independence and support
Funding to achieve your goals
Help us improve
Menu
Back
Enter your search term below
15 June 2018
In the past five years, we’ve heard more people talking about Elder Abuse. Some might assume it’s a new phenomenon, but it’s not. Not all, but some older people, are taken advantage of in their later years. This can be because their physical or mental capacity has declined, they are lonely or because they have not put in place safeguards to protect themselves financially. Elder abuse is almost always complex by nature, particularly when family members are the perpetrators.
It can be physical, verbal, or psychological. But it can also be financial, power based and of course emotional.
The conundrum for people working in health or aged care always falls between, when or should we intervene?
As an aged care provider, VMCH has a policy on safeguarding individuals. Within this policy we state the need to focus on the needs and wants of our customers individually. That being said, the complexity of suspecting Elder Abuse from say a family member, is still contentious, given the person may not want to report their family member.
The purpose of World Elder Abuse Day is to raise awareness that it exists as a real issue in our community. Our job is to work on how to best support the individual, to ensure they are safe while respecting choice.
Sometimes the best we can do is be #readytolisten
There is a range of online resources on the subject of Elder Abuse. For more information, visit: https://seniorsrights.org.au/
This clip, Behind the Curtain, from Eastern Community Legal Centre is also worth watching.
Key stats on Elder Abuse*
(*Sources: Elder Abuse FAQs – Seniors Rights Victoria, Neglectful to the Point of Cruelty? Elder Abuse and the Rights of Older Persons in Australia – Wendy Lacey, Professor of Law and Deputy Dean, School of Law, University of South Australia, Elder Abuse in Australia – UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Elder Abuse Helpline, 2013-14 annual report, Australian population projections – Australian Bureau of Statistics, Elder Abuse Prevention Action Plan – Dale Bagshaw, University of SA.)
More news articles in At-Home Aged Care
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide. Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.
Not sure where to start?
Contact us
→
Who needs our services?
Our Digital & Marketing Agency - ID Digital Agency
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide.
Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.