Neglect in Aged Care - A Role for the Justice System?

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's Interim Report entitled Neglect, identified multiple failings in meeting Australia's care needs of older people. Many of these have been examined from both health and regulation-based perspectives. However, although some of the issues uncovered relate to potential criminal acts, relatively few prosecutions of individuals for abuse in aged care contexts take place. In addition to the social invisibility of the aged in our community investigators may experience considerable difficulties in utilising traditional processes for criminal investigation and prosecution in matters involving aged care institutions.