South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle, has backed Age Cymru’s ‘Rule Out Abuse’ campaign,
The initiative calls on the Welsh Government to introduce new legislation to force public authorities to investigate allegations or suspicions of elder abuse
An estimated 39,000 older people in Wales suffer abuse in their own homes with that abuse taking many forms including physical abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.
Currently, there is no legal obligation on public authorities to investigate when concerns are raised that an adult is at risk of being abused.
Mr Whittle, who is Plaid Cymru’s spokesman for Social Services, Children and Equal Opportunities, said: “We need urgent action to protect some of society’s most vulnerable people from harm. This is why I am backing Age Cymru’s campaign and have signed the ‘Rule Out Abuse’ charter.”
“It is concerning that Wales has the highest rate of elder abuse in the UK and I am committed to working with Age Cymru and other organisations to tackle this problem head on.”
For more information visit www.agecymru.org.uk/ruleoutabuse