*Content is provided by Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN).
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) member organisations have for some time now been addressing elder abuse issues in order to uphold these rights, through the Commonwealth Home Support Program, through State or Territory elder abuse service
provision, as well as other funded advocacy and prevention work.
The work and activities have been of benefit to both users of aged care services and older people who are potential aged care service users. Contact has come through active engagement of older people and their families during information and education
provision in the community. Elder abuse, and risk of elder abuse has also come to light when older people, their carers and families contact OPAN and its service delivery organisations requesting generalised and individual advocacy.
This can be related to aged care, but also as the older person requests information and assistance in relation to other health, human services or community services.
In 2017, it was recommended that OPAN develop a nationally consistent approach to its work in elder abuse prevention. To this end, the National Elder Abuse Prevention and Advocacy Framework has been developed. The goal of this was to deliver consistent
services and standards Australia-wide, and inform, develop and deliver a best evidence and practice national model of elder abuse prevention and advocacy response.
For more information on elder abuse OPAN has provided some great resources on their website including a video.