It is difficult to believe that abuse, violence and assault including sexual assault and neglect is happening to older people and people with dementia in community and residential care, in Australia, or indeed, in any country. But it does, and the statistics are truly horrifying and hard to reckon with.

Living in a rich developed country, presumably civilised, and one that people in other parts of the world sometimes refer to as leading the way, is becoming embarrassing. Read or re-read my last blog if you don’t believe me on that score, as it tells us Australia is not leading the way, and is well behind in its human rights obligations!

The Royal Commission into Quality Aged Care found there are approximaltey 50 sexual assaults to people living in residential care facilities (nursing homes) in Australia, mostly affecting women with dementia, yet no one seems to care. I have even contacted high profile younger activists campagining against sexual abuse, such as Grace Tame, but without a response. Perhaps ageism is in play here, or only wanting to focusing on sexual abuse of children is the reasons for this, but if we have aplatform to help create change in any given area, I’d think activists would want to be inclusive.

Anyway, that is definitely a topic for another blog, as this one is to highlight two projects, and a video that hopefully, might just inspire you, the reader, to get involved with, or to take action in some other way to help stop sexual abuse of people in residential or community aged and dementia care.

The Ready To Listen Project

The #ReadyToListen project aims to build the skills and capacity of residential aged care service providers to better respond to – and prevent – sexual assault in residential aged care. It aims to prevent sexual assault in residential aged and community care and to improve responses when sexual assault is disclosed. Research shows that most victims/survivors of sexual assault in residential aged care are women living with dementia. The project was established in 2021 by the Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN), in partnership with Celebrate Ageing Ltd and the Older Women’s Network NSW, and is funded by the Department of Health.

At the heart of the #ReadyToListen project is a MAP (myths, facts and practical strategies). It outlines 10 ways in which residential aged care service providers can improve their responses to – and prevent – sexual assault. Follow the link to read more about it.

The Sexual Assault of people with Dementia Special Interest Group (SAD-SiG)

In 2022, I approached the #ReadyToListen project team with a suggestion to establish a special interest group, which we have called the #ReadyToListen Sexual Assault and Dementia Special Interest Group (SAD-SIG). This was because I felt we needed a better process of listening to the voices of people living with dementia, and their care partners and families, to help make sure the #ReadyToListen project prevents sexual assault.

If you live with a diagnosis of dementia either in the community or in residential care, or you care for someone with dementia, or know others who do, please consider joining me, and provide feedback on a number of resources being developed to recognise and to prevent sexual assault. Dementia Alliance International is one of the project partners involved.

If you are interested in getting invovled in any of the work I am doing, please connect with me via my contact form.

And it you are still not sure if it is an issue, or if you should get involved, then please watch this video.