By Annie Guest for PM
16 OCTOBER, 2009
The crime of stealing money and even homes from elderly relatives is on the rise, and authorities suspect the financial crisis is fuelling it.
Queensland's Public Trustee says cases of elderly abuse have been increasing by 20 per cent a year in recent years.
The trustee is urging vulnerable people to appoint an enduring power of attorney and draw up a will.
Meanwhile, the Elder Abuse Prevention Association has repeated its call for a reporting and investigative body similar to those that tackle child abuse.
In Queensland at the moment, there are 112 cases before the courts.
Queensland's Public Trustee Peter Carne oversees the affairs of about 7,000 people deemed incapable of doing so themselves.
He says steeling from elderly people is becoming more common.
Peter Carne estimates 27,000 elderly Queenslanders are the victims of theft or physical or emotional abuse every year.
But he says when it comes to steeling, most perpetrators do not recognise their crime.
"When you ask the individuals who have misappropriated their family member's funds, the general response is 'well I was going to get it anyway'," he said.
"'This is my inheritance, this is my entitlement, I can better use it now than my mother or father can use it'."
Mr Carne says the difficult financial times are responsible for such an increase in elder abuse.
He says a properly drafted enduring Power of Attorney is the most important document for any elderly person.
The Elder Abuse Prevention Association agrees the document is essential.
And its director Lillian Jeter says Australia's ageing population is another reason behind the increase in the crime, which she believes is never isolated to theft.
"What we guestimate is that just overall there's a 100,000 cases minimum per year throughout Australia and it's not just the fundamental abuse happening by itself, it's always coupled with physical abuse or psychological abuse or neglect," she said.
New system needed
One law firm has called on State Governments to beef up the laws surrounding crimes against the elderly.
But Ms Jeter says what is needed is a system similar to that addressing child abuse.
Abridged
SOURCE: ABC NET, AUSTRALIA
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