Victorian aged care homes most likely to be victims of theft

According to recent data, theft was the number one crime in nursing homes.

In the year to March 2023, aged-care facilities saw more thefts than any other crimes – with nursing homes in Monash being targeted the most.

Recent data from the Crimes Statistics Agency Victoria showed crime in nursing homes was at the lowest rate in five years. The crime rate in 2020 was 29.8 per cent, which dropped to 12.4 per cent in 2021, and further in 2022 to 17.3 per cent.

However, theft-related offences increased by 22 per cent from the previous year to 143. Common assaults were second but with a 63 per cent decrease to 102 crimes.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and Senior Rights Victoria chief Chris Potaris said it was concerning that crime was happening within vulnerable aged care homes.

“It is not acceptable that they have been victims of crime in the place they live, where they are meant to be the safest,” Mr Potaris told The Herald Sun.

“We must ensure that support is available for older Victorians facing crime or elder abuse.”

“Older Victorians must have access to sustainably funded elder-abuse response services to support them in their hour of need.”

Senior Rights Victoria, a service dedicated to responding to elder abuse, saw an overwhelming rise in demand following funding cuts by the Andrews Government.

The 2022-23 reporting period saw a 55 per cent increase in calls received, compared to the previous year – with only one person servicing the state-wide helpline since 1 July.

COTA Victoria feared if the current growth in demand continued, there would be an estimated 8,000 calls annually, with close to 25 per cent of calls not being assisted.

“This shortfall means that people are losing their jobs and, at the same time, we’re losing frontline capacity and capability,” Mr Potaris said. 

“Senior Rights Victoria is already at breaking point.”

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