Reported cases of domestic violence against elderly people more than doubled over the past five years, according to police figures.1

Last year police received 86 reports of domestic violence by victims over 60 – a sharp rise over the 39 filed in 2009.

The figures show a gradual increase in reported cases, with 39 in 2010, 57 cases in 2011 and 77 in 2012. Domestic violence may be physical, sexual or psychological and may include neglect.

There were also more reported cases of bodily harm – which include different grades of injury – against the elderly, with 81 cases reported last year, up from 62 in 2012 and 56 cases in 2011.

Bodily harm cases had been high in 2009, when 74 were reported, and 72 the following year, the figures show.

But fewer thefts – including muggings, armed robberies and “snatch and run” cases – were reported in 2013.

There were 58 reported cases, down from the 127 the previous year. There were 61 cases in 2009, 73 in 2010, and 66 in 2011.

A police spokesman said the figures were for cases involving a victim aged over 60.

“This does not necessarily mean that they were the sole victims or direct target of an offence. Other people may also be registered as victims in the same reports,” he said.

In most cases the abusers are either relatives or carers

This gradual increase of cases involving older people reflects the overall rise in reported cases of domestic violence.

Figures recently released in Parliament showed such cases had almost doubled – from 543 in 2009 to 1,028 in 2012. However, unlike in the case of specifically elderly victims, last year reports dropped to 850.

In Parliament it emerged that no one had been given an effective prison term for domestic violence in the past five years.

Last month Roberta Lepre, the director of voluntary organisation Victim Support Malta, pointed out that more attention had to be focused on reaching out to elderly people who were victims of crime – be it domestic violence or any other form of abuse. In most cases the abusers are either relatives or carers, she said.

The NGO therefore focused its efforts on the elderly. “Over the years we started coming across cases of abuse on older people and felt there was a lack of awareness,” Dr Lepre said.

“We don’t really talk about it, or have much data. But in our work we’ve come across cases of physical and even sexual abuse of the elderly.

“There is a lot of emotional, psychological and financial abuse and even abuse in terms of giving them more medication than necessary.”

She told the story of a woman well into her 80s who was frequently seen locked out on the balcony all day while the relatives she lived with were at work.

This abuse was noticed by a neighbour, who contacted the NGO and it intervened to help the woman.

Victim Support Malta can be contacted in confidence on telephone 2122 8333 or at email info@victimsupportmalta.org. victimsupport malta.org.