Ely man Ed Mullenger recently took his fight for justice against Financial Abuse of Vulnerable Adults and elderly people by care workers and others to the Prime Minister. Ed, along with the charity "Action on Elder Abuse" is lobbying the Prime Minister  for new legislation to bring protection of the elderly to the same level as child protection ensuring that all reports of abuse are treated seriously and promptly.

Millions of pounds is stolen, defrauded or exploited from the elderly and vulnerable each year by care workers, sons and daughters or others in positions of trust. The findings, by national charity "Action on Elder Abuse" , is a study of all calls to the charity's helpline during 2006, relating to financial abuse of older people in their own homes.

The study shows that a staggering 53% of theft, fraud and deception, which takes place in a domiciliary setting, is committed by the victim's own sons or daughters with 38% being committed by care workers, “these findings are horrendous” and it may seem inconceivable to most of us that this could be happening, but sadly it is a truth we all need to accept. The fact is that until we treat the abuse of elderly and vulnerable people with the same seriousness as child abuse, this level of theft, fraud and exploitation is likely to continue.

Ed also wants to see all levels of the police and judiciary better equipped and trained to understand, detect and act against vulnerable adult/elder abuse. This includes rank and file police, solicitors, the Crown Prosecution Service and Probation Service ensuring an increase in protection and prosecutions for these offences.

If you are worried about an older person being abused, neglected or financially exploited you can call the “Action on Elder Abuse” free phone helpline 080 8808 8141

If you would like to make a donation to help fund the Action on Elder Abuse charity, you are invited to either do this online at: www.justgiving.com/elderprotection   or you can send donations by post to Action on Elder Abuse, Astral House,1268 London Road, Norbury, London, SW16 4ER

What is elder abuse?

There are five types of elder abuse: psychological, physical, financial, sexual and neglect.

Facts on elder abuse

• 500,000 are believed to be abused at any one time in the UK.**
• Half of the people who abuse are related to the person they are abusing, but very rarely (in only 1 per cent of cases) is the abuser the main family carer.*
• 53% of those who abuse are sons or daughters.*
• 38% of abuse is committed by care workers.*
• 78 per cent of abuse is perpetrated against people who are over the age of 70, with 16 per cent of that abuse affecting people over the age of 90.*
• Those between 80-89 years old are the most vulnerable to abuse.*
• Two-thirds of abuse is committed at home, by someone in a position of trust.*
• In 37 per cent of situations, two types of abuse occur simultaneously.*
• In a third of circumstances, the abuse is perpetrated by more than one person in collusion.*

· Based on analysis of calls to the Action on Elder Abuse helpline.** The '500,000' figure is based on the scientific study of elder abuse (Ogg and Bennett 1992) on behalf of the Royal London Trust, published in the British Medical Journal.

· If you would like to know more about Elder/Vulnerable Adult abuse, you can contact Ed, at ed@elderprotection.co.uk

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