A new community fund has been established through Taranaki Foundation to support Age Concern Taranaki, the region’s frontline organisation responding to elder abuse, loneliness and social isolation among older people.
The Age Concern Taranaki Fund will allow individuals, families and businesses to contribute now or leave a gift in their will, creating a lasting local legacy that protects and connects older people across the region for generations to come.
The launch comes during Elder Abuse Awareness Week (15–22 June), as Age Concern Taranaki reveals a stark rise in the number of elder abuse cases it has handled. From 86 cases in 2020 to 353 cases in 2026, a more than fourfold increase in just six years, with no equivalent increase in funding.
The Scale of the Problem:
Richard Anderson, Executive Officer at Age Concern Taranaki, says the numbers reflect a crisis hiding in plain sight. “We have seen a dramatic escalation in both the quantity and severity of elder abuse cases in Taranaki. In 2026 we closed 353 cases and that’s with the same base level of financial support we had back in 2020. The need has grown enormously, but our resourcing hasn’t kept pace.”
Anderson says the statistics only tell part of the story. It is estimated that only one in 14 cases of elder abuse is ever reported, and more than 80 percent of abusers are family members.
“The hardest cases to spot are often the ones happening closest to home.”
The most common thread running through cases, he says, is loneliness.
“Loneliness and social isolation make older people vulnerable to every form of abuse, from family neglect to sophisticated romance scams. Loneliness is the equivalent of smoking a packet of cigarettes a day for your health. When someone is isolated, they are more likely to trust a scammer who offers connection.”
During Elder Abuse Awareness Week, Anderson has a simple message for the Taranaki community – “Connection is protection.”
“Encourage your older friends, family and neighbours to connect socially and as a community, reach out to those who may be isolated. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week is a long time to feel alone. With a caring, connected community, abuse is less likely to occur and when it does, it’s far more likely to be noticed.”
A Story From the Frontline:
The human cost of elder abuse is real. Age Concern Taranaki’s EARS (Elder Abuse and Neglect Resolution Service) team recently supported an older man, referred to here as Tom, after his daughter raised concerns from Australia about her sister’s behaviour in their father’s home.
When EARS social workers visited, they found Tom living in a cold, cluttered home, in debt due to a skyrocketing power bill, cut off from his family, and unable to use a phone. Over many months, the EARS team arranged ramps for safe access, organised smoke alarms through Fire and Emergency NZ, secured a phone for Tom through WINZ, and worked alongside police, health professionals and care staff to ensure his safety.
Tom was eventually transitioned into rest home care, where he is now safe.
“The Age Concern girls showed me care and made changes in my life. I no longer feel so alone,” Tom said.
Why a Permanent Fund – and Why Now?
Age Concern Taranaki has seeded the new fund with an initial $50,000, signalling its commitment to building long-term community support beyond the constraints of government contracts alone.
Chair of Age Concern Taranaki, Sam Bennett says the organisation wants to move from simply surviving to genuinely thriving and that means building financial foundations that match the scale of community need.
“We want to be the fence at the top of the cliff, not just the ambulance at the bottom. With the right support, we can employ the social workers Taranaki needs, expand our social connection programmes, and change how our community sees older people – as a resource, not a burden.”
Age Concern Taranaki runs strength and balance groups, coffee mornings, men’s groups, writing groups, safer driver courses and health education programmes across the province, as well as its elder abuse response service.
Building for Our Community
Josh Hickford, Chief Executive of Taranaki Foundation, says the new fund is exactly the kind of initiative the Foundation exists to support.
“Age Concern Taranaki is doing vital, often invisible work in our community every single day. By establishing an endowment fund, we are making it possible for anyone in Taranaki, whether through a one-off gift or a bequest in their will, to be part of protecting our older people for the long term. This is how communities build lasting resilience.”
Taranaki Foundation manages more than 130 funds on behalf of the community, distributing grants to local causes each year.
Elder Abuse Awareness Week runs 15–22 June 2026. If you are concerned about an older person in Taranaki, contact Age Concern Taranaki’s EARS service.
Info below 👇 if you want to learn more about the fund and how it will support older people across Taranaki
