Elder Abuse

As people live longer and require more potentially costly care, the incidence of elder abuse is rising. If you are concerned that an elderly loved one, friend or neighbour is being abused, our team of experienced lawyers, working closely with our specialist Elderly and Vulnerable Client team, will help you find legal protection and other support services on their behalf.

Elder abuse can happen anywhere – at home, at a care home, or in hospital. Wherever it happens, it can be difficult to spot, particularly if the older person struggles with mental capacity and communicating their thoughts and feelings. Elder abuse can take many forms, but it frequently has a financial dimension where a vulnerable elderly person is pressured into transferring their assets and wealth to someone else, possibly without fully understanding what is happening. While this may be achieved directly through payments it can also be through encouraging or coercing an elderly person to change the terms of their will to the advantage of the abuser.

At Coodes, we take these cases very seriously and are committed to providing access to legal representation and protection for vulnerable individuals. We understand that when you seek help you only want what is best for your loved one or friend and the realisation that they may be being abused by someone close to them can be very upsetting. Your friend or relative may feel anxious or embarrassed about the situation and this can make it hard to understand their true wishes; they may also be in denial or not realise that their situation could be described as abusive.

Whatever the circumstances, we can provide advice and help you take action to stop the abuse. We can also help you access the tools you need to continue providing your elderly loved one with ongoing support and care.

Sadly, elder abuse, where vulnerable older people are taken advantage of by friends, relatives, neighbours, and care providers is not uncommon. In fact, it can even be the people who are legally authorised to make financial decisions for the older person who are responsible for elder abuse, such as Court of Protection Deputies or Attorneys under Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Legal support against elder abuse

If you are concerned that an older person, perhaps a relative or a neighbour, is suffering elder abuse, we can help you protect them. Our expertise includes:

• Advice on removing and/or replacing deputies and attorneys
• Taking steps to remedy the impact of financial abuse, such as recovering excessive gifts or handling unpaid bills (for example, care home bills)
• Providing advice to your loved one about making a will
• Providing advice to your loved one about making a Lasting Power of Attorney to appoint people they trust to help them in future
• Advising you about applications to the Court of Protection if your loved one or friend lacks the capacity to make their own decisions about their welfare and/or finances, including:
  • Deputyship applications – for authorisation to make decisions on your loved one’s behalf
  • Statutory wills – where your loved one cannot make their own will
  • Deprivation of liberty challenges – where your loved one’s activities and movements are being unnecessarily restricted by a hospital or care provider

Many of our lawyers are fully qualified members of Solicitors for the Elderly, an organisation that recommends lawyers with expertise in this area. We approach cases of elder abuse considerately, keeping the older person’s best interests at heart at all times. All the advice we give you will focus on promoting their welfare and happiness as well as equipping you with the tools you need to provide them with long-term care and support.

Our team also includes qualified Dementia Friends and Dementia Champions with particular experience advising people affected by dementia and their loved ones.

To arrange an initial discussion with one of our elder abuse solicitors, call us on 0800 328 3282 or fill in our enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch with you.