Gyeongbuk Provincial Autonomous Police Collaborate to Prevent Elder Abuse and Promote Reporting

Gyeongbuk Province↔Autonomous Police Committee↔Gyeongbuk Police Agency↔Elderly Protection Specialized Agency

Promotion for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Activation of Reporting.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] The Gyeongbuk Provincial Autonomous Police Committee has decided to collaborate with Gyeongbuk Province, Gyeongbuk Police Agency, and the Elderly Protection Agency to establish a cooperative system for promoting the prevention of elder abuse and activating reporting.

Gyeongbuk has entered a super-aged society with 600,000 elderly people aged 65 or older, accounting for 23.1% of the total population.

According to statistics from the Gyeongbuk Police Agency, reports of elder abuse have been increasing, from 497 cases in 2020 to 640 cases in 2021 (a 28.8% increase).

Elder abuse is often perpetrated by cohabiting family members, making it easily concealed or overlooked, and it tends to be habitual and repetitive, so attention and reporting from the community are crucial.

Accordingly, Gyeongbuk Province, Gyeongbuk Police Agency, and the Elderly Protection Agency will collaborate to operate the Happy Helper program at senior centers concurrently as Elder Guardians to facilitate early detection of abused elderly individuals.

Specifically, first, a cooperative system will be established for the early detection of elderly victims of crime.

Happy Helpers at senior centers, the Elderly Protection Agency, and abuse prevention police officers will share information on recent types of elder abuse through regular meetings and work together to detect elderly crime victims early.

To this end, when Happy Helpers discover elderly crime victims during their activities, a hotline will be established and an organic cooperation and support system will be strengthened.

Next, counseling visits to elderly victims left in blind spots and joint promotional activities will be conducted.

If Happy Helpers identify high-risk elderly individuals suspected of being crime victims who are reluctant to report, abuse prevention police officers and the Elderly Protection Agency will conduct joint on-site visits and face-to-face meetings to confirm the abuse.

Additionally, to improve awareness of elder abuse and activate reporting, various promotional activities such as distributing elder abuse prevention posters and leaflets will be carried out in connection with the Happy Helper program at senior centers.

Efforts will be made to strengthen protection and support for elderly victims and prevent re-abuse.

Victims will be promptly separated from perpetrators, and measures will be taken to confirm the abuse and guide them through criminal and family protection procedures so that elderly victims can actively respond. Periodic monitoring of high-risk elderly individuals will be implemented to proactively ensure their safety.

The Elderly Protection Agency will be notified of relevant information to prevent re-abuse through shelter admission, counseling, medical, legal, and economic support, and case management for elderly victims.

Finally, confidentiality for reporters will be guaranteed to encourage active reporting participation.

Happy Helper performers will be assured that their identities will be strictly protected to alleviate concerns about retaliation due to exposure from reporting.

Plans are also underway to promote reporting by awarding certificates of appreciation or providing reporting rewards to major reporters of elder abuse.

Chairman Lee Sundong stated, “By establishing a cooperative system for elder abuse prevention promotion and reporting activation, we will eliminate blind spots in crimes against the elderly and continuously identify areas for improvement through field feedback.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.