Prevention of abuse of older people

To prevent abuse of older people (also known as elder abuse), we need to understand it. The Prevention of Abuse of Older People work programme was a three-year MSD initiative that focused on building the foundations needed to better understand, prevent, and respond to the abuse of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

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The work programme included a national prevalence study of the abuse of older people, research to understand experiences of AOP within Takatāpui and Rainbow communities, qualitative research to better understand different cultural perspectives on the abuse of older people, reviewing existing information, reviewing screening and assessment tools, and gathering insights from initiatives funded by the Office for Seniors’ Elder Abuse Prevention Fund.

Research reports and publications

The national study of the abuse of older people 

The national study of the abuse of older people (the Study) provides robust and up-to-date data about abuse of older people (AOP). This includes how prevalent it is, what it looks like, who it affects, the key drivers of harm and protective factors.

The Study included five main components:

• Prevalence Survey – a nationally representative survey capturing older people’s self-reported experiences of abuse.
• Integrated Data Infrastructure analysis – Examination of AOP through linked administrative datasets, including police, Accident Compensation Corporation, hospital admissions, InterRAIi, and the NZ Crime & Victims Survey.
• Qualitative interviews – in-depth interviews with older victim-survivors of abuse to explore the contexts in which AOP occurs, and the barriers and enablers to seeking help across four groups: Māori, Pacific, NZ European, and disabled people.
• Contextual analysis of financial abuse – mixed methods study exploring how financial abuse is identified, addressed, and prevented within financial institutions, supplemented with insights from the legal sector.
• Analysis of economic and social costs – estimate of the economic impact of AOP on individuals, whānau, communities, and government systems.

The research has broadened and deepened the AOP evidence base and provides a baseline for future research. The findings provide a clearer evidence base that can inform policy, service design and future appropriations in AOP prevention and response programmes.

Additional research was conducted to explore how AOP is understood, acknowledged, discussed, and experienced by different ethnic groups in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as the systemic drivers.

MSD commissioned Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to conduct the Study and the ten reports and additional information about the Study can be found on their website.

Rainbow and Takatāpui experiences of Abuse of Older people 

The Rainbow report looks at experiences of AOP within Takatāpui and Rainbow communities, and at the factors that may contribute to AOP in these communities.  

It was conducted by the University of Auckland working with Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura – Outing Violence and has three main components: a national and international literature review, an overview of the current AOP system and policy context, and interviews with community experts. The report can be found on their website.

Cultural perspectives on Abuse of Older People 

The Cultural Perspectives report looks at how AOP is understood, acknowledged, discussed, and experienced by different ethnic groups in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as the systemic drivers that may contribute towards it. The research was conducted in two streams – Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti (Pacific peoples, South Asian, East Asian, and European/Pākehā) – by two different suppliers, and one synthesised report was produced.

MSD commissioned Wairangahau (with Point and Associates) for the Tangata Whenua stream and Gravitas for the Tangata Tiriti stream. The report can be found on their website.

Mapping the system of supports for abuse of older people

MSD commissioned ThinkPlace New Zealand and Dovetail Consulting to undertake a system mapping exercise to analyse the system of supports around AOP.

This work was focussed on the system of supports around AOP, rather than covering AOP itself. The project objective was to use visual storytelling to build understanding about the current system of supports around AOP, including how the system is configured, how it operates or behaves, and the gaps or barriers in the support system for older people and for those navigating the system.

Abuse of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand: An examination of potential data sources

MSD commissioned this research to find out what data is being collected about AOP; if this data could be used to estimate the prevalence of AOP in New Zealand; and, whether it may be able to provide insights into the scale and/or characteristics of AOP. The research focused primarily on data sources that can be quantitatively analysed. This included large surveys, administrative data sources, data held by MSD funded services and data sources held by other large organisations. The researchers evaluated the data sources by reviewing publicly available information, interviewing data experts, and conducting a short survey of organisations that may hold other data sources for AOP. The research was conducted by the COMPASS Research Centre at the University of Auckland.

Review of screening and assessment tools for abuse of older people 

MSD commissioned this research in order to understand more about the current state of screening and assessment of AOP in New Zealand. The findings from this research are intended to inform improvements across the system. The research included a literature review to identify screening and assessment tools for AOP in New Zealand and internationally and interviews with a cross-section of practitioners and clinicians who are in a position to detect AOP. The research was conducted by the University of Auckland. 

Gathering insights from the Elder Abuse Prevention Fund

In 2022, the Office for Seniors provided one-off grants of up to $25,000 through the Elder Abuse Prevention Fund. The funding was provided to initiatives aiming to prevent AOP. MSD funded a learning and insights review of these initiatives. The research was conducted by Dovetail Consulting Ltd.

Abuse of older people research symposium 

In September 2024, MSD and Vine co-hosted a one-day symposium to bring together specialists, researchers and policymakers working to address the abuse of older people. The symposium featured speaker panels and workshop discussions that explored the critical gaps in our understanding of and response to abuse of older people in Aotearoa. The speaker panels and workshops addressed four themes: understanding and measuring abuse of older people, inequities and intersectional identities, reflections from practice on barriers and challenges, and aspirations for wellbeing and hauora.