Budget fact sheets 2005 - elder abuse and neglect – increased funding

The Government is investing $3 million over the next four years to improve and expand services for elder abuse and neglect prevention and increase national and regional co-ordination. This is in line with the commitment made under Opportunity for All New Zealanders to prevent family violence and abuse and neglect of older people.

Overseas research indicates that 2-5% of New Zealanders aged 65 years or more (9,500-24,000) are experiencing abuse or neglect.

There are currently 22 Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention (EANP) services throughout New Zealand. Service co-ordinators investigate complaints of elder abuse or neglect, co-ordinate intervention with health, police and legal services, undertake monitoring and follow-up and raise public awareness.

Providers’ annual funding will increase to, on average, $53,000 per annum. A funding pool of $100,000 per annum will also be available for applications from providers with additional delivery costs posed by rural areas, diverse cultural needs and heavy service demands.

Services will be expanded to Horowhenua and Taupo: two regions with high proportions of older people, currently lacking adequate access to EANP services. $53,000 per annum will be allocated to each region, with an additional $10,000 in 2005/06 for set-up costs and induction of service co-ordinators.

This initiative will also provide funding to establish national co-ordination of EANP services through a contracted non-government organisation. The national co-ordinator will hold regional forums and an annual national conference, and will aim to improve consistency across service sites, give service co-ordinators better access to resources and training and increase community awareness of elder abuse and neglect.

From 1 July 2005 the responsibility and funding for the Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention programme will transfer from the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services to the Ministry of Social Development’s Family and Community Services.