Elderly abuse could well exist in Bermuda, but it is under reported.

This was one of the messages delivered at a forum on the elderly on Thursday.

The Bermuda Social Work Council discussed the "silent problem'' of abuse of seniors in the community at their Forum on Protecting our Elders and the Need for Legislation.

Guest speaker Dr. Khin Myint, of the Extended Care Unit at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, said although he had yet to see a case of physical abuse of an elderly person at the hospital this did not mean the problem did not exist.

He told the forum that abuse of the elderly can occur in many ways. As well as the more obvious physical abuse, mental, financial and material abuse can all take place and cause seniors great distress and anguish.

US gerontologist Dr. James Jackson gave examples of these types of abuse.

"Mental abuse can be harassing someone, lowering a person's self-esteem or giving someone the silent treatment, for example. It's very hard to identify in a court of law, but if the person doing the abuse carried on in public then it could be documented.'' "It's very difficult to pinpoint elderly abuse,'' agreed hostess Claudette Flemming. "Many people are not willing to come forward and talk about it.'' Police spokeswoman P.c. Gail Correia, was also present to answer questions on what the Police were doing to protect the elder citizens.

"We conduct home surveys free of charge and advise people on how they cam make their homes more secure,'' she told the forum.

"We also produce a brochure for senior citizens and we have a vulnerable persons programme which people can register with.'' Vulnerable persons scheme would protect the elderly The vulnerable persons programme is a scheme whereby a person can register themselves or a friend or relative at their local Police Station. The parish constable will then visit that person on a regular basis to discuss any concerns they might have.

Health and Social Services Minister Nelson Bascombe was another of the guest speakers present at the forum answering people's concerns about what the new Government is doing to help protect seniors.

He spoke of the lack of legislation targeted specifically at seniors and of the "glaring gaps'' in legislation concerning the regulations governing rest homes.

Mr. Bascome told his audience Government was very concerned about the senior citizens on the Island who would account for 12 percent of the total population by the year 2000.

With this in mind, he said, the Government would be examining the areas of health care, housing, income support and the employment market to see how it could better serve local seniors.

One particular initiative mentioned by Mr. Bascombe was the establishing of a "National Office of Ageing'' within the next six months.

This agency would be able to give elderly persons all the information they need and would include financial advice as well as aid sources and counselling.