Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 5 of 5
Financial abuse of older people in Northern Ireland: the unsettling truth
- Author:
- COMMISSIONER FOR OLDER PEOPLE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
- Publisher:
- Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 24
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This study provides evidence of the scope and scale of the financial abuse of older people in Northern Ireland. The study interviewed 1,025 people older people (aged 60 and over) across Northern Ireland were surveyed in relation to financial abuse. They were asked 29 questions in relation to their personal finances, money-management and decision-making in the last 12 months. The results found that that 21 per cent of older people surveyed had experienced some kind of financial abuse. The most prevalent forms of financial abuse identified were issues relating to money and possessions (7 per cent of respondents); buying and selling goods (6 per cent of respondents); and issues relating to charity contributions (4 per cent of respondents). Other types of financial abuse identified included: coercion to sign and fraudulent use of signatures; changes to legal and financial documents and investments; experience of coercion; bank account activity; deception and misuse of money; and issues relating to inheritance and power of attorney. Based on the result of the survey sample, which was representative of Northern Ireland’s older population, the findings suggest that over 75,000 older people are experiencing some form of financial abuse in Northern Ireland. (Edited publisher abstract)
Who's calling? Levels of cold calls and scams of older people in Northern Ireland
- Author:
- COMMISSIONER FOR OLDER PEOPLE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
- Publisher:
- Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 24
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
Drawing on the results of a survey, this report looks at the scale and nature of cold calls and scams affecting older people. The survey involved 1,025 older people and used a representative sample of Northern Ireland’s older population in terms of age group, region, gender and quintile of deprivation. Questions covered unsolicited calls, junk mail, coercion to sign and fraudulent use of signatures, and rogue traders pressurising older people into buying something that they later regretted. The figures show that significant numbers of older people are the victims of scams, with technological developments making older people more vulnerable. It also highlights the emotional impact of scams, which could result in older victims becoming more socially isolated. The survey found 67 per cent of respondents experienced unsolicited calls to their home, with 22 per cent receiving these calls once a week. In addition 2 per cent of respondents reported that they signed documents without understanding what they were signing and 4 per cent disclosed that they felt tricked or pressured into buying something that they later regretted. Short quotations from survey respondents are included. (Edited publisher abstract)
Elder abuse in people with dementia in Northern Ireland: prevalence and predictors in cases referred to a psychiatry of old age service
- Authors:
- COMPTON S.A., FLANAGAN P., GREGG W.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 12(6), June 1997, pp.632-635.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Discusses the findings of research which looks at the prevalence of elder abuse in community-dwelling patients with dementia and tests the hypothesis that there is no difference in carer and patient characteristics between the abused and non-abused population. Results found that a poor premorbid relationship, verbal or physical abuse by the dependant, problem behaviours in the dependant, the carer's level of anxiety and a perception of not receiving help were significantly associated with abuse. Alcohol consumption of the carer, physical dependence, severity of cognitive impairment or financial or social circumstances were not associated with elder abuse. Concludes that elder abuse is associated with aspects of the patient/carer relationship and should be regarded as a significant problem in patients with dementia referred to an old age service.
Safeguarding staff’s experience of cases of financial abuse
- Authors:
- PHELAN Amenda, McCARTHY Sandra, McKEE Joyce
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 48(4), 2018, p.924–942.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Financial abuse of older people is an important issue for all safeguarding staff, particularly social workers, who are often tasked with complex case management. Financial abuse can take many forms and can occur remotely to the older person and without their knowledge. However, research in this area is limited. This study was undertaken to understand how safeguarding staff in Northern Ireland manage these cases and the challenges experienced. Fourteen safeguarding staff, including social workers and nurses, participated in two focus groups. Using thematic analysis, four areas of concern were identified. These were capacity issues, relationships, structural context and rural versus urban context. The paper concludes that changes are needed in a number of areas such as social and cultural norms, legislation, policy and practice in order to enable social work practitioners to manage cases of financial abuse of older people in a more comprehensive way. (Edited publisher abstract)
Consultation paper on law and the elderly (LRC CP 23 - 2003)
- Author:
- IRELAND. Law Reform Commission
- Publisher:
- Ireland. Law Reform Commission
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 224p.
- Place of publication:
- Dublin
Elderly people require support from income maintenance, health, housing and personal social services. The Law Reform Commission is conscious that the elderly constitute a significant and growing group who may also need specific support and protection from the legal system. While the majority of elderly people do not need any special legal support or protection, there is a significant minority who, because of illness or disability, impaired mental capacity or social and economic dependency do need protection. They may require protection from physical or mental abuse. They may need protection from misuse of their money or property. At some stage they may need help with making decisions and ultimately may need a substitute decision maker. This is a matter of interest to everyone and not just to the current generation of elderly people – any one of us could become a vulnerable adult in need of protection. This Consultation Paper is concerned with legal mechanisms for the protection of such vulnerable elderly people.