THE Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has announced new elder abuse guidelines for GPs. The guidelines will ask GPs to enact safety plans for patients they suspect are being abused and report their concerns to police or other relevant authorities.
This is an important announcement as more than a third of doctors’ consultations are with people over the age of 65. With GPs on the look-out for elder abuse there is a greater chance of catching it and preventing further harm.
Elder abuse involves causing harm to an older person through physical, financial, emotional or psychological abuse.