Age Action has described the figures on abuse of the elderly which were released today as just "the tip of the iceberg".
Spokesman for Age Action, Eamon Timmins, said the figures shone a light on one of the largely hidden and greatly under-reported forms of abuse widespread in Ireland.
Around 85 per cent of abuse against the elderly takes place in the home, HSE South figures from 2007 show.
Referrals in the south of the country revealed a further 8 per cent of abuse happened in a private nursing home or a relative's home.
A total of 6 per cent occurred in both acute hospitals and care units, with 1 per cent recorded in boarding facilities.
The figures indicated a family member is most like to abuse an elderly family member (82 per cent), followed by a carer (6 per cent), neighbour (4 per cent), other patients (1 per cent) and other (7 per cent).
Speaking at a HSE elder abuse conference in Cork today, Age Action chief executive Robin Webster called for a more comprehensive approach in tacking the issue, including the extension of the Social Services Inspectorate to cover community and home care services.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Máire Hoctor, said that abuse of the elderly is a complex issue, which may involve financial, psychological, physical or sexual abuse.
Speaking at the publication of a policy document and training DVD to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Ms Hoctor said that whatever form elder abuse may take, it is unacceptable and a concerted effort is needed to tackle the problem.
The template for a new policy on the issue involves a “whole system” approach which provides clear guidelines for Acute Hospitals, Community Care, Primary Care and Day Centres, she said.
Mr Timmins said Age Action, from its work on the ground and from international statistics, believes the figures reported today are just the "tip of the iceberg". He added that it was worrying that just 11 per cent of cases handled by the HSE were referred by family members.
"If we learn norhing else from the experience of other forms of abuse, we must learn that problems which are kept within the confines of the family are rarely resolved, and often exacerbated," he said.
Figures from the HSE South region showed a total of 245 allegations have been referred in the first five months of the year. However, it is estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 older people are being abused in the region.
Hosted by the HSE South in advance of World Elder Abuse Day on Sunday, Uncovering Elder Abuseaims to raise the awareness of the issue among health service staff and voluntary and statutory agencies.
Additional reporting PA