Elderly Financial Abuse On The Rise In Ireland; Family Members Are Main Culprits

Family members continue to abuse their elderly parents financially, according to a new report released on Monday in time for the observance of World Elder Abuse Day. Up to 13,000 such cases were referred to the HSE by the end of 2013.

The second most common form of mistreatment by families of their senior members has been witnessed by about half of Irish bank workers, reports the Irish Examiner. The abuse comes in the form of family members demanding money from older people, pension money being taken and seniors losing control over their bank accounts, Moran revealed. The information comes from results of a survey among 493 employees of Ulster Bank.

The bank employees said that 45 percent handled cases of financial abuse of elders in the last 12 months. Another 68 percent said they were aware of such cases involving seniors, while 75 percent had dealt with such cases in the past decade, reports Wall Street Edge.

Robyn Scott, CEO of Age Concern, said about 70 percent of financial abuse cases had family members as the abusers. Scott cited the case of Sinead, an old woman who has dementia. When she became incapacitate, her son convinced her to open a joint bank account where the son charged personal purchases. Fortunately for Sinead, the bank reimbursed her when it recognised the son was engaged in fraud.

Justin Moran, advocacy officer of Age Action, urged seniors who believe they have been abused financially or psychologically are advised to report their case to HSE specialists through a dedicated phone line open from Monday to Friday.

To contact the writer, email: vittoriohernandez@yahoo.com