The Adult Safeguarding Unit is a South Australian service that responds to concerns about any adult who may be vulnerable and experiencing abuse or mistreatment.

The Unit aims to work positively with and for the adult experiencing the abuse or mistreatment to address the abuse and safeguard their rights, whilst preserving relationships that are important to them.

Established for five years now, the Unit has consistently received most of its contacts about the abuse or mistreatment of older people over the age of 65. In 2022-2023, 60.6% of contacts to the Unit related to older people, with adult children being the identified as the person responsible for the abuse in 43% of cases. An all too familiar situation reported to the Unit is the abuse of an older person by an adult son. Situations reported to the Unit are often complex and highlight a range of risk factors and abusive behaviours. In some cases, the abuse reported is dangerous and life threatening.

This oral presentation will unpack key issues and themes relating to abuse or mistreatment by adult sons including the impact of broader social or systemic issues such as the housing crisis, mental illness and substance use. It will consider the challenges older people experience in identifying and responding to abuse from their sons, how the Unit has navigated these situations and considerations for improved outcomes for older people.