Today is International Elder Abuse Awareness Day and in the coming days and weeks, Age Concern expects to field an increased number of phone calls from those who are being abused, or those concerned about others.
Mrs Stevens said her role was to provide advocacy, information and support for older people, which includes supporting victims of elder abuse.
Elder abuse is defined as 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.
It can take various forms - physical, psychological or emotional, sexual, financial or material abuse, and/or intentional or unintentional neglect.
"Everybody is vulnerable to it," Mrs Stevens said.
"It's nothing that's affected by a socio-economic position. It's a global issue and it can be in any family."
Elder abuse often included elements of financial control.
At the "extreme end" were elderly people encouraged to put their savings into a home, only to be sent to full-time residential care, paving the way for family members to live in the property.
Other forms were family members trying to "secure their inheritance" in a variety of ways. One example was trying to take ownership of the family home.
Internationally, between 3% and 10% of people experience some form of elder abuse.
However, only 16% of those cases are reported to an agency for support.
"It's the tip-of-the-iceberg stuff we see," Mrs Stevens said.
Invercargill and the Southland district has the highest reported elder-abuse statistics in New Zealand - not because abuse was more prevalent, but because it was more likely to be reported.
The area records an average of 70 cases a year.
"It's always been there. I think what's happening is people are more aware of it.
"They're more [likely] to speak out about it."
From today, pamphlets will be available at the Queenstown Work and Income New Zealand (Winz) office, which usually leads to an increased number of phone calls from people needing help or further information.
"When people know there's an agency that will provide a confidential service, to speak to somebody about it and get help for it [it makes it easier to reach out].
"Age Concern has the Ministry of Health contract to provide the service. The training and experience in that area means they are a very good first point of call.
"It's a very scary thing [to ask for help], particularly when [the abuse is at the hands of] someone in the family unit."
Mrs Stevens said the free service promised anyone needing help "to be respected and believed and supported".
"Hopefully, we'll work towards an outcome that will cease the abuse ..."
There was "no average age" for elder abuse sufferers and while anyone over the age of 65 was classified as a superannuitant, "most 65-year-olds wouldn't class themselves as elderly," she said.
• Anyone wanting more information on elder abuse, either for themselves or someone they know, could call Age Concern Queenstown on (03) 441-3490 or Age Concern Invercargill on (03) 218-6351.
