Elder abuse is common and can be devastating. New research has uncovered four key reasons older people do not seek the help they need with the abuse.
- Professor of Law, Discipline of Law, Justice and Society, Adelaide University
Thanks to review upon review, we have plenty of evidence about the problems in aged care. But federal governments have shown ‘a lack of willingness to commit to change’.
At the moment, buying a house with a “history” falls under the “buyer beware” provision. But changes to Victorian law shift the onus to estate agents to disclose “stigmatised” property.
Western Australia is leading a legal shift across Australia that seeks to remove the legal and financial barriers that prevent women from leaving an abusive household.
In a period of declining housing affordability and precarious employment, older people are sitting on a “nest egg”.
The federal governments efforts to tackle the financial abuse of elders is to be welcomed - but will banks be properly empowered to act?
The Law Reform Commission has recommended that banks take ‘reasonable steps’ to protect vulnerable Australians.
Any significant decline in home ownership or equity in a home impacts higher care needs: older people will not have an asset to sell to fund the bonds required to enter aged care accommodation.
People who engage in rent-to-buy schemes might not be protected under law and are often left in unaffordable situations.
With tenancy laws under review, a ruling that landlords must maintain residential premises in good repair even if dilapidated is hailed as a ‘landmark’ decision. That tells us reform is needed.
Reliable data about the homeless population is vital when developing policy, allocating funding and developing services for vulnerable people. But first the census needs to find them.
With incidence of elder abuse, mostly within families, on the rise, the government is looking for much-needed legislative measures to combat it.
Unconscionable conduct by (mainly big) business has been notoriously tricky to prove. Could a change in legal wording help?
Without affordable and secure housing that meets the needs of older Australians, the nation cannot hope to sustain the productivity that is needed to secure future prosperity.
Social services minister Kevin Andrews recently announced an extension of funding for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) until June 30, 2015. This agreement funds 180 homelessness…
The federal parliament has established a far-reaching inquiry into affordable housing. The terms of reference make only two specific references to issues affecting older people, but it is essential that…
Last year, having recently lost her life partner, 78-year old Miriam* was advised by her children that the family home was now “too big” for her to live in. She sold her property and moved into the home…
The tragic case of 88 year-old Cynthia Thoresen recently made headlines in Queensland. Mrs Thoresen’s sad decline and the extent of her injuries have been comprehensively documented. Despite shocking neglect…
