One in six elderly people experience abuse or treatment, but Helpline 1712 hardly receives any requests for help

Elder abuse is also a common, but often invisible problem in Flanders. This invisibility is also evident at Helpline 1712: in 2024, only 3 percent of the reported persons concerned people over the age of sixty. This is one of the smallest groups to reach the helpline, while the elderly are at high risk.

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“Elderly people are often dependent or feel loyal to those who care for them,” emphasizes Flemish coordinator Kasia Uzieblo. “As a result, they do not dare to speak out. The low number of calls about elder abuse does not mean that the problem is small, but that it is still deeply hidden.”

To break the taboo surrounding elder abuse, Hulplijn 1712 collaborates with two stalwarts from the Flemish television landscape: Annie Geeraerts and Ray Verhaeghe, both 99, known from the VTM series ‘Familie’ and officially the oldest soap couple in the world. “In the series, their characters have often come into contact with themes surrounding vulnerability and elder abuse, making them a natural bridge to the campaign,” according to the helpline.