Financial abuse of seniors has been steadily increasing, according to a seniors legal service.

The Queensland Government-funded Seniors Legal and Support Services (SLASS) says this is reflected in calls to their service.

SLASS provides free legal advice and support to Queensland seniors concerned about being physically, verbally or financially abused or mistreated.

The people featured on this page are among those who sought assistance. All names have been changed to protect their identity.

For more information on the services go to www.communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices and click on seniors, then seniors legal and support services.

Photo Caption:
One of the Seniors Legal and Support Services’ regional offices is at Hervey Bay.  Pictured from left are staff members Diane Grover, an administrative assistant; Judica Swift, solicitor; and Fiona Payne, support councillor.

Margaret

Granting enduring power of attorney (EPOA) to her daughter, Ilse, initially seemed right for Margaret, a widow then in her early seventies.

She invested $80 000 to have a granny flat built at Ilse’s house and despite poor health, her future seemed secure.

But things changed dramatically when Margaret was away for several months. On returning, she found Ilse had spent significant amounts of her money on meals, clothes and entertainment. She also learnt her name was not on the title deeds of Ilse’s residence as agreed.

Through the service, Margaret was helped to revoke the EPOA and obtain pro bono legal assistance to recover her $80 000 investment.

This matter is expected to have a positive outcome for her.

John

Twenty years ago, after his daughter Jane split with her partner and had nowhere to live, John was pleased to take Jane and her baby son Todd into the house he owned.

It all worked fine until seven years ago. Jane was employed and Todd was in school.

Jane began drinking heavily and behaving aggressively towards her pensioner father, as did Todd, as he grew older.

As things deteriorated, Jane took her father’s credit card and began spending his pension. John was
regularly without money.

SLASS assisted John in obtaining a domestic violence order against his daughter and grandson, who were ordered from his home. It helped John to change his bank and Centrelink account details and gain control of his finances.

Maria

Maria was an 80-year-old client with an intellectual disability who spoke English as a second language.

SLASS was contacted by concerned bystanders who had noticed that Maria appeared to be regularly locked out of her home and was often seen foraging for food in supermarket rubbish bins.

The service was able to determine that her pension was regularly taken by her daughter and son-in-law.

Its intervention led to the Queensland Civil Administration Tribunal making  an urgent interim order appointing Maria’s grand-daughter as her guardian. As a result, further abuse of Maria’s pension was stopped.

SLASS found a multicultural nursing home where Maria’s language was spoken and where she eventually took up residence.