Respecting Elder Citizens- Preventing Elder Abuse Hauraki Family Violence Intervention Network is proud to be partnering with Age Concern Thames for this short series of articles. We are seeing elder abuse increasingly frequently when we look at the trends of family violence locally. As people age, they can become more vulnerable and susceptible to abuse and neglect- however we recognize the wealth of knowledge and wisdom the older members of our whanau and community bring to our lives. Over the next few weeks we'll be sharing some ideas you can use to help prevent elder abuse and neglect. We are all in this together creating a healthy community Honour older people's/kaumatua's wisdom Give your time, your words and your presence to strengthen your relationship with your older relative or friend Top tips We often learn new information through talking together. Include elder relatives and friends in conversations because they have a wealth of knowledge that can be shared if you ask Together listen to a podcast or watch YouTube movie and talk about it. Or read out the local newpaper. Learning is more than formal education and it's a life long process. It's about exploring new ideas, seeing opportunities, embracing new experiences and sharpening our skills. It means being curious and having an open mind, in all areas of life Look forward to the next adventure We all have physical, spiritual, cultural and emotional needs at all stages of our lives. Top tips: Ensure that your older relative or friends have the opportunity to embrace their next adventure in life. Consider in which ways can you support your older relative to try something they may have always wanted to try but due to other commitments, or putting their whanau's needs first, or the time that it may require or financial costs involved: it hasn't yet come into their experience. How can you help to help bring their opportunity to life? Life is an adventure and it doesn't stop as we age although we may all appreciate help sometimes. Hauraki Family Violence Intervention Network (HFVIN) is a collective of around 100 individuals representing over 60 organisations from across the Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki Regions We believe in supporting positive connections between people and strengthening healthy relationshijps and families. We do this by sharing key messages holding conversations, sharing resources and by providing training. ncer VIOLENCE FREE