National and international experts in the field of elder abuse will be speaking at a conference organised by Age Action and the Gaiety School of Acting on Monday 7 November, from 9.30 to 4pm in the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.
The most recent figures from the HSE indicate that in 2014 they received 2,592 referrals of cases of elder abuse, the highest level since records began and a five per cent increase on the previous year.The true figure is likely far higher due to a lack of awareness of the issue and a reluctance on the part of many victims to report their case to the HSE.
Age Action, along with partners in Ireland, Finland, Italy and Romania, is taking a lead in trying to tackle the problem using an innovative socio-drama approach.With our partners in the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, who bring their experience in addressing social issues through drama workshops, we are piloting new ways of educating older people in nursing homes and care staff about their human rights and how to protect themselves from elder abuse.
As part of an Erasmus + funded project we have invited experts from Ireland and abroad to discuss the rising levels of elder abuse, explore its causes and identify possible solutions.
Speakers
Professor Simon Biggs, PhD. Professor of Gerontology & Social Policy School of Social & Political Sciences, Melbourne University, Australia.
Title: ‘A Generational Intelligent response to Elder Abuse and Ageism’
Dr Amanda Phelan, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin.
Title: 'Culture and Elder Abuse: Two dimensions'
Alicia Gomez Campos, European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, ENNHRI.
Title: ‘Human Rights of Older Persons and Long-Term Care’
Bridget Penhale, University of East Anglia (UEA), UK.
Title: ‘Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse: Human Rights challenges’
Ioana Caciula, PhD candidate at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences.
Title: 'Loneliness and elder abuse in older population'
Dr Tom Maguire, School of Creative Arts, University of Ulster.
Title: ‘From Advocacy to agency: Creative performance and older people’
Gaiety School of Acting
Title: 'Sociodrama, Tackling Ageism, Preventing Abuse (S.T.Age) workshops for older people and staff in care settings in practice'
To register
There is no charge for attending and you can register online here or email conference@ageaction.ie. For any queries contact Dr Marita O’Brien, Age Action at 087 634 6399 or Dr Anna Kadzik-Bartoszewska, Gaiety School of Acting at 01 679 9277 Ext.14.
