The results of the recent survey of management abuse in retirement villages was challenging, especially around Patronisation.

The Retirement Village Residents Association NSW’s Report ‘Ageing Without Fear’ reveals that 40% of village residents have suffered some form of abuse across a sample of 1,259 within 140 retirement villages.

The most commonly reported types of abuse were Patronisation (31%), followed by Harassment (20%) and Intimidation (20%).

And within patronising, 69% laid the charge against village and HO management. This is not acceptable.

Harassment and Intimidation were largely resident on resident, and resident committee on resident.

The most commonly reported symptoms of abuse were depression, helplessness, isolation, fear and anxiety.

70% of residents were not aware if the village had a policy around abuse and from our learnings in the DCM Institute, we hear that many operators do not educate and support staff in understanding and dealing with abuse.

This is such a significant issue – with its impact on the quality of life of residents and their dignity, that we are going to develop a village kit, with instructional videos, on abuse that we will distribute at no charge to all villages from the DCM Institute.