Help for seniors abused and neglected

The aim of the project was to strengthen the personnel and professional capacity of the Senior Telephone help line; raise awareness of violence against seniors among the general public and experts; and develop interdisciplinary collaboration with other associated professions. The line is devoted to women and men at risk of and affected by violence and is available non-stop and free of charge. It ensures a sensitive approach and provides complete anonymity. By extending its operation, we have increased the availability of our services; in the period from October 2014 to December 2015,594 seniors approached us with issues of domestic violence and abuse. In 2015, 14,715 seniors called the line. The main benefit was the mitigation of the impact of violence on men and women and the improvement of specialized care in victim assistance. The project included educational work and the organization of preventive dialogues between secondary school students and seniors, as it is often the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who commit theacts of violence. Debates with relevant experts were also crucial in improving the quality of our services.