Police, alongside Elder Rights Advocacy, an organisation promoting the rights of older Victorians for more than 30 years, will provide information about the different types of elder abuse, how to seek help, and information about support for victims.
Victoria Police is also working with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to increase awareness of elder abuse reporting requirements under the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS).
In a statement, Victoria Police said rates of elder abuse are increasing, but it still often goes underreported.
"Police see firsthand the impact of older members of the community being abused each year with the crime ranging from physical and sexual assault to serious neglect and mistreatment.
"If you or an older person close to you discloses they are a victim of abuse, please believe them and encourage them to contact police or a support service," the statement said.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified abuse as "far from uncommon" in aged care, and recommended a new rights based Aged Care Act should include that people receiving care have the right to freedom of any form of abuse.
In the June 2024 quarter SIRS data, there were 7,876 reports of unreasonable use of force, 3,566 reports of neglect, 1,381 reports of psychological or emotional abuse, and 515 reports of unlawful or inappropriate sexual contact.
