Elder abuse systems failing victims as coercive control goes unnoticed

Older Australians are facing hidden and often unrecognised forms of coercive control, with new research showing that systems meant to protect them are sometimes being used to manipulate or isolate them instead.

The findings, released to coincide with today’s UN World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlight growing concern that the nation’s current laws and reporting pathways are failing some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

Defined by the Australian government as a pattern of abusive behaviour designed to instil fear and strip a person of independence, coercive control is widely associated with intimate partner violence.

However, researchers from Central Queensland University (CQU), Charles Sturt University and the Three Rivers Department of Rural Health say it also plays a significant role in elder abuse perpetrated by carers, paid helpers, friends or community members.

Dr Helen Hickson, a social work academic at CQU, said families who tried to report concerns often encountered barriers, confidentiality rules and a lack of action from police, health services and guardianship bodies.

“We heard very sad stories of family members who tried many times to access help for their elderly relative,” she said said.

“They told us they were not believed, there was no action taken and in some cases suspicion was placed on the person reporting their concerns.”

She said the research shows gaps in coercive control legislation, which is largely designed around intimate partner relationships and does not reflect the dynamics of parent–child or client–carer relationships.

Health and social care systems need stronger safeguards against psychological abuse, financial manipulation and coercive behaviour, along with trauma‑informed approaches when warning signs emerge, she said.

“Because coercive control is often hidden, or deliberately covert, there’s a lack of awareness about the various ways older people might need protections,” she said.

The study also argues that inconsistent definitions of coercive control make it harder for professionals to recognise abuse, harder for authorities to pursue criminal charges, and harder for researchers to measure the problem.

The authors propose an evidence‑based definition tailored to older adults to improve consistency across healthcare, social policy and legal responses.

The team will present its findings at the Australian Elder Abuse Conference next month, where Dr Hickson will speak on strengthening health responses for older adults.