New Zealand Senior Citizen’s Minister Wants Elder Exploitation Legislation
Speaking yesterday at an Age Concern workshop marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Senior Citizens Minister Ruth Dyson said she had asked for a review of the enduring power of attorney legislative provisions.
She aimed to clarify some aspects and introduce further legislation to Parliament before the end of the year.
Enduring power of attorney allows a person to give another party, such as a family member or lawyer, the power to take over when they can no longer manage their own affairs. One kind of power of attorney covers property and another personal care and welfare.
Age Concern has released figures showing over 70 per cent of cases involving abuse of the elderly involve financial abuse.
Many of these cases involve someone entrusted with enduring power of attorney.
Dyson said the legislation would clarify issues such as gifting, witnesses, access to the court system and the threshold at which the enduring power of attorney kicked in.
“Financial abuse is one of the hardest forms of abuse to deal with, largely because of the legal issues involved,” she said.
“It is an important way for people to provide for advanced old age when they may not be able to make decisions about their personal lives and finances.”