New Member Spotlight - Hourglass

Hourglass (Safer Ageing), is Northern Irelands only charity dedicated to calling time on the harm, abuse & exploitation of older people. We deal with the very worst elements of physical, sexual, financial/economic, psychological, domestic abuse and neglect and we stand alone in this field, offering life-changing support to victims, their families and wider communities.

Almost 90,000 over 60’s experiencing abuse in Northern Ireland.

We offer a range of services to people who are concerned about abuse of an older person, or needs advice to age more safely. Our services include:

24/7 Helpline: 0808 808 8141 Confidential helpline providing information and support to anyone concerned about harm, abuse or exploitation of an older person. The helpline is operated by trained staff and volunteers who can signpost to appropriate agencies and provide information, advice and support to help you make the right choices about keeping safe.
Txt message service 07860 052906
Email us: helpline@wearehourglass.org
On-line chatbot: www.wearehourglass.org
Casework: We work with those who have suffered abuse on a 1-1 basis, to ensure they can recover from the event and address the risk factors that make older adults potentially more susceptible to harm. These risk factors can include isolation, loneliness, difficulty accessing services, lack of home security, digital exclusion etc.
Awareness Raising: We seek to raise awareness about how to recognise and respond to abuse, and provide information seminars and training to various community and business groups.

Services analysis shows:

Call volumes continue to increase from 4,000 in 2018/19 to 10,000 in 2023/24 with c.50,000 impacts across the year.
The average of age of victims is 75
The majority of victims are female – 60% female, 40% male
Most victims are abused by a family member or close relative/friend
20% of helpline callers are the victims
80% of helpline callers are a concerned person
Financial/economic abuse continues to account for c. 40% of annual calls

What is abuse of an older person? A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.

Main types of abuse of an older person:

PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE Psychological or emotional abuse involves threats of harm, bullying and harassment and other behaviours or acts of coercive control which deliberately try to scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore an older person.
FINANCIAL OR ECONOMIC ABUSE Financial or economic abuse is where someone in a position of trust interferes in an older personʼs ability to acquire, use or maintain their finances.
PHYSICAL ABUSE Physical abuse is any intentional act or behaviour causing injury, trauma or other physical suffering or bodily harm. This includes instances of fabricated or induced illness or causing an older person to become unwell.
NEGLECT Neglect occurs when a person deliberately withholds, or fails to provide, suitable and adequate care and support needed by an older person.
SEXUAL ABUSE Sexual abuse involves any non-consensual sexual act or activity perpetrated against an older person
DOMESTIC ABUSE Domestic abuse can take many forms, it can be subtle and hard to spot. If you or an older person you know are experiencing this you are not alone, Sadly, this type of abuse can affect anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity