Over the same period, the proportion of cases in which financial abuse was the main form rose from 27 per cent to 35 per cent.
Grey Power president Roy Reid said the organisation was concerned that people with an enduring power of attorney were abusing their authority by taking or using money from the older person's accounts.
"Quite often, especially in rest home scenarios, they are not even giving them any money for their day-to-day needs," he said.
"It usually comes to light when another family member thinks mum or dad's got some money and they eventually find out they don't."
A discussion paper prepared by Grey Power and the Aged Care Association cites the real case study of 94-year-old "George", who gave his daughter enduring power of attorney and shifted into a rest home.
George's daughter sold his home. The proceeds went into a separate account and were later used for a property investment. She also transferred his superannuation payments into a separate account.
George didn't receive the residential care subsidy at first because his daughter didn't provide full information to Work and Income, so he incurred debts for the care, priced at more than $700 a week.
A debt collector was engaged and a part-payment, of several thousand dollars, was made.
Proceedings were filed in the Family Court and the enduring power of attorney was transferred to George's grandson, who completed the subsidy application. The subsidy was backdated but this still left an earlier unsubsidised period which the family did not pay for.
The case dragged on for 23 months, but once resolved, "George's anxiety visibly diminished".
The discussion paper says the abuse of an enduring power of attorney is a legal grey area.
Seeking redress is slow and expensive, and there is often uncertainty about the outcome.
These problems are "the single biggest argument for a formal advocate such as an aged care commissioner".
Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew said she was considering the issues raised. Changes made in 2007 to the law on enduring powers of attorney were being reviewed. The findings and proposed amendments would be reported to Parliament by September 30 next year.
Legal teeth
* The Aged Care Commissioner would have formal powers to:
* Investigate complaints of financial abuse of the vulnerable elderly
* Ask the Family Court to intervene if abuse of legal powers is detected
What do you think?
The Herald wants to hear your experiences of rest home care.
Email us at martin.johnston@nzherald.co.nz or simon.collins@nzherald.co.nz or call us on (09) 373-6400 ext 98-204 or (09) 373-6473
