Elder abuse response services

MSD funds providers to deliver Elder Abuse Response Services (EARS) that address the immediate needs of older people experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse and neglect. This may include safety planning, crisis response, advocacy, referrals, and ongoing family violence assistance for older people and their whānau.  

Elder Abuse Response Services were added to the Family Violence work programme in late 2018.   

EARS seeks to ensure that older people: 

• are safe and protected from harm
• have their voices, wishes, and dignity respected
• are empowered to live independently, with confidence and to be self-determining
• they and their whānau are connected to services and community.

MSD currently funds several EARS providers across Aotearoa and the Elder Abuse Response Service Helpline. The helpline is a free, confidential, 24-hour phone line (0800 EA NOT OK) for people concerned about themselves or others who may be experiencing (or are at risk of) elder abuse. 

Elder abuse in Aotearoa

Elder abuse (also referred to as ‘abuse of older people’) can take many forms. The most common forms include psychological, financial or economic, sexual, and physical abuse and neglect.

The Office for Seniors indicates that at least one in ten New Zealanders will experience some form of elder abuse. Due to the sensitive and often complex nature of these cases, particularly when abuse occurs within whānau, many incidents go unreported, meaning actual prevalence is likely to be significantly higher.

In 2019, MSD engaged with the sector to better understand the dynamics of elder abuse including the current state of EARS, its strengths and areas for improvement. You can read the report here:

This report set the foundation for the EARS strategic direction.

Budget 20 and increased funding

In 2020, MSD received $25m for Elder Abuse Response Services to address the existing cost pressures in the sector and ensure continued access to specialist family violence services.

This investment helped to stabilise the sector by supporting providers to retain, support and develop valuable staff. This contributed to safer working environments for staff and better outcomes for older people impacted by (or at risk of) abuse/neglect.

Prevention of abuse of older people

MSD has a three-year work programme that focuses on building the foundations needed to better understand, prevent, and respond to the abuse of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Expanding Elder Abuse Response Services

In 2023, $2.5m in residual funding from Budget 20 was used to procure 12 additional EARS providers to strengthen and grow the sector. The focus was on making EARS more accessible in areas with the highest need (based on key data indicators for elder abuse). There was a strong emphasis on commissioning culturally diverse and responsive providers who are connected to and reflect the communities that need to be supported.

Future state of Elder Abuse Response Services

MSD is currently undertaking research and evaluation work to support the EARS work programme. This will build the evidence-base and ensure future EARS interventions are evidence-based and meet the needs of older people experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence. This includes: 

• a literature review exploring which types of interventions work best for people experiencing elder abuse 
• an evaluation of EARS to help us better understand what types of services are available to communities, how the services are working, what is working well, and whether there are improvements that could be made  
• partnering with Age Concern New Zealand to develop a practitioner focused theory of change and intervention logic model.  

If you have any specific questions or feedback you would like to pass on, please email the team: Family_Violence_CPP@msd.govt.nz