Financial abuse

Sometimes it isn’t easy to accept you’re a victim of abuse, and it can be very difficult to tell someone else. If the person causing the abuse is a close family member or a friend, someone you trust and care about it can feel even harder to speak out.

It may be easier speaking to someone outside of your immediate family and friends, who understands what you’re going through, and what to do to make things better. Hourglass is the only helpline which focuses on and supports elderly people live safe lives.

Trained and experienced staff and volunteers will listen to your concerns and provide suggestions and advice.

It’s free to call, and entirely confidential. The number won’t appear on a phone bill. The helpline will always look to respect your privacy, but there may be occasions when this isn’t possible, for example if you or someone else is in immediate danger.

Whether it’s you or a loved one, help is on hand.

Abuse of older people can take many different forms. It’s an expression of power and control, exercised by the perpetrator over the victim. It can be spontaneous, where a perpetrator takes advantage of a situation, or it could be a premeditated and calculated act.

These types of abuse stem from the real or perceived vulnerability of older people:

• Through domestic abuse. This is often gender related with women often being the victim. It can be from an adult family member, or a current intimate partner
• Through prejudices. This is typically through environments and situations that create institutional attitudes and approaches which put older people at risk. Through lack of knowledge and skills
• A lack of knowledge and skills, or external support for those in positions of trust can lead to abuse.