Marie recalled one particularly bad case. A woman, in her late 80s, had seeping ulcers on her legs from being kicked, the bones in her hands were broken from being squeezed and her body was black and blue with bruises. The abuser was her daughter.
Marie said it was a long-term family violence situation. The daughter would drink and become violent. Since it had gone on for so long the mother had accepted it.
The woman was reluctant to stop her daughter as she was the only social connection she had left.
"This was one of the most frustrating cases.
"It had gone on all their lives. Mum wasn't as devastated as you would expect. It was almost normal."
Age Concern received more than 2000 referrals of elder abuse - something that was called "granny bashing" in the 70s - last year. That's over five a day.
Many cases involved more than one form of abuse with financial, neglect, self-neglect and physical abuse accounting for most of it. Almost all the abuse was psychological.
For one out of four the abuse had been going on for more than two years.
Sadly, it was those closest to them that caused the most harm. In almost 80 per cent of cases the abuse was carried out by a family member.
Around half of reported elder abuse cases involve financial abuse.
New Zealand Bankers' Association chief executive Karen Scott-Howman encouraged people to look for the signs of "nasty" financial elder abuse.
"This kind of abuse is a very real risk for older New Zealanders. It's particularly nasty because it involves people, often loved ones, taking advantage of people's trust and vulnerability."
Napier woman Joanne Quinn was released from prison early in 2015 after committing one of the worst cases of elder abuse. Her mother Maureen Quinn was left to rot on a couch for three years. Medical staff eventually found the 82-year-old in soiled nappies, fused to the furniture, her leg fixed to a footstool as maggots dropped to the floor.
Maureen was admitted to hospital on November 15, 2011, and died six weeks later from bronchial pneumonia.
Quinn was sentenced to two and a half years in prison but was released after serving a third.
Sometimes families are accidentally abusive, Marie said. They take over so the older person doesn't have to make decisions about their finances or life, but they leave the victim feeling powerless and frustrated.
"They forget older people have the right to make their own decisions. They think they're doing them a favour."
Age Concern chief executive Stephanie Clare wanted people to start talking about the issue and look out for signs of it. She said it can be quite subtle like a family member using a pensioner's bank card or living with them and not contributing to the household.
"That might be fine, but the more you listen you hear the older person doesn't have the right to live the way they want."
Clare said the solution was to treat the elderly with dignity. And respect their right to make decisions and be independent.
"It's unacceptable, as a society we're responsible to look after this vulnerable community."
Age Concern offers free, confidential, specialist Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services as well as providing education about elder abuse.
Minister for Seniors Maggie Barry announced a new 24/7 0800 helpline for elder abuse or neglect will begin from July 1. She said around one in 10 seniors experienced some form of abuse, however only a third of those cases were reported.
"For too long it's been a difficult and sometimes shameful issue to discuss openly. It is time for that to change."
