Older people and legal advice - the need for joined up and creative approaches

Authors:
DUFFY Joe, BASU Subhajit, PEARSON Katherine C.
Journal article citation:
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 34(1), March 2012, pp.31-47.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA

This paper reports the findings from research conducted with older people which investigated whether their needs for legal information and advice were being met. Participants included 25 key informants such as solicitors, advice centres in the voluntary sector and staff in the statutory social sector. Also 7 focus groups were conducted with 83 older people across Northern Ireland. The findings suggest that online legal information may frequently assist older people in identifying potential answers to their legal questions, but may not be an adequate substitute for personal communication and advice. The research also highlighted the need for professionals to work together to meet the needs of older persons for legal advice and to safeguard their interests. Such ‘joined up’ approaches are particularly important, for example at the point of dementia diagnosis, where information sharing between health and social care professionals may significantly promote the legal and welfare interests of older people at a vulnerable point in their lives.

Subject terms:
internet, older people, access to information, advice services;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Northern Ireland
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1469-9621
ISSN print:
0964-9069

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