What support is the Welsh Government providing to the estimated 143,000 people who have been abused as an older person in Wales?
The Welsh Government has worked with local authorities and other partners to ensure that critical work to safeguard adults at risk remains a priority for services during the coronavirus outbreak. Officials have been meeting on a monthly basis with Business Managers of Safeguarding Boards to ensure swift communication of concerns and issues at a local level, and separately with chairs to escalate issues of concern where appropriate.
We have provided guidance for those who are still operating in communities and may not be trained to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect. The guidance covers signs to spot and what to do if there is a concern.
Older people are less likely to report domestic abuse than other victims, which is why our communications campaigns have included messaging aimed at this particularly vulnerable group. We also know that refuges are not a suitable form of accommodation for some older people fleeing domestic abuse. Further funding was allocated to local authorities for disbursed refuge accommodation for when standard refuge is not suitable. This had older victims of VAWDASV specifically in mind.