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LEGISLATION IS NEEDED to root out financial abuse of vulnerable adults in Ireland.
That is according to the multi-agency National Safeguarding Committee (NSC) which today kicked off a nationwide public awareness campaign to encourage greater vigilance among the state, financial and nursing home sectors as well as among family members and carers.
NSC Chairperson Patricia Rickard-Clarke said international research suggests that up to 10% of older adults may experience financial abuse.
1,645 cases of alleged adult financial abuse have been reported to the HSE National Safeguarding Office since it started collating data in January 2016 up to June 2017. This includes an increase of approximately 44% in the first half of 2017 compared to a similar period last year.
However Rickard-Clarke says they are just the “tip of the iceberg”.
Very large amounts of money are involved. For example, the State will pay out €7.2 billion in older persons pensions this year. If 10% is subject to financial abuse then the scale of the issue becomes clear.
“The message this week from the National Safeguarding Committee is that adult safeguarding legislation is on its way and those appointed as agents on behalf of vulnerable people must ensure that all of the person’s money is managed directly for their benefit, and for that purpose only.
Furthermore, family members must have legal authority to access another person’s bank account, and be able account for how the money is spent. Any other use, without consent, is theft.
Hearings on adult safeguarding are taking place this month at the joint Oireachtas Heath Committee to scrutinise a draft Adult Safeguarding Bill 2017, put forward by Independent Senator Collette Kelleher. Measures to tackle financial abuse are included within the bill which also includes for the establishment of an independent National Adult Safeguarding Authority.
A dedicated campaign support number has been established by the HSE National Safeguarding Office at (061) 461 358, should people wish to report concerns about financial abuse.
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Yes and the Govt is the greatest culprit with the imposition of Local Property Tax on family homes!
@Jarlath Murphy: pesky government again eh….tch!
@Jarlath Murphy: no actually relatives commit the greatest amount of financial elder abuse.
@Jarlath Murphy:
Most countries have property taxes
@Tweety McTweeter: most countries don’t pay high rates of VRT, USC etc. And they actually receive the services their income tax is supposed to pay for.
i allways tell my kids that when i am older that i am going to rob a bank and if i get away with it i will go to a hotter country to live out my last years, and if i get caught i will be in mountjoy getting 4 meals a day free elec free accomadation free tv free medical care and as i am an old man possible get sent to an open prison to do some gardening painting get to go visit the family on weekends,they answer they cant wait
@Christy Pop: I think you may have to. Cost of most nursing homes per week €1350.
@Gillian Weir Scully: All these snowflakes. People want to avail of care then they pay for it. Simple. Lower taxes, remove what little care legistlation there is and let everybody make their own private arrangements. Sorted.
Last time I checked theft was a crime?
How about we just enforce the laws we have?
No instead we’ll invent more legislation which will be ignored and just happen to have a new quango built in with the grandiose title of National Adult Safeguarding Authority!
START WISH THE GOVERMENT & THE PENSION
@Kieran Cronin: Start with not pressing the Caps lock key!
@Kieran Cronin: no. This article is about elder abuse by relatives and care givers.
Read the article.
@David Murphey: I think we know that but joking about the government…. well semi joking….maybe no joke. Very heavy sigh.
Maybe clarification on how many of 1,645 reports of alleged financial concerns were actually assessed as being confirmed and reported to an gardai siochana would help…statistics can support any argument, evidence will confirm….
In some cases financial abuse is a catalyst for physical emotional abuse and neglect
The fair deal for nursing homes take 7.5% pa over three years. This is 22.5%. On a house valued at say 400,000€ the take is €90,000. Recall recently that government were suggesting that family home should not be left to children as they have got enough in the parents lifetime. The Tory wayvof thinking.
@Paul Coughlan: I don’t think Tory way of thinking perhaps more socialist or labour?
@Paul Coughlan: Paul did you consider what happened before the Fair Deal scheme was brought in?
Financial abuse.
Making pensioners pay for,.
LPT
WATER RATES
CEPTIC TANK CHARGES
GP CHARGES WHILST IN RECIEPT OF A MEDICAL CARD,,,,ILEGAL UNDER THE 1970 HSE ACT
PERCENTAGE PAYMENTS TOWARDS COUNCIL GRANTS
SHOULD I GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON,,,,,,,,,.
WHEN AVALUATING FINANCIAL BE SURE TO NO IT STARTS AT LOCAL GOVERMENT LEVEL,,,,.
MY ADVICE TO PENSIONERS WHOM HAS A STRANGER OR FAMILY MEMBER SUPORTING THERE NEEDS FROM THERE PERSONEL FINANCES.
(1)
FIT A HIDEN CAMERA IN YOUR HOME.
(2)
ARANGE WITH YOUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SECURITY MEASURES WITH YOUR ACCOUNT.
(3)
ARANGE A SYSTEM WITH YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE.
(4)
DONT LEAVE MONEY LYING AROUND THE HOME BANK IT.
(5)
RECORD EACH EURO NOTE YOU GIVE OUT IN A DIARY THEY ALL HAVE UNIQUE CODES,,,RECORD DAY,,DATE,,TIME ESTABLISHMENT TO BE PAID.
have your say