The call for an ombudsman to protect the rights of senior citizens is an excellent one.
It was made by Lance Patterson, a former Wanganui police prosecutor, who is angered by the amount of elder abuse in New Zealand.
While some may baulk at another layer of bureaucracy, given the increase in the number of elderly people as a proportion of the country's population it seems a legitimate addition to have an office investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or violation of rights.
Much of the information about elder abuse is anecdotal and, while physical abuse is dealt with by the police, the use of coercion by family members to get money is more difficult to deal with. In both cases it is a very emotional, personal and private issue for the elderly person, given the strength of family bonds and dependence on relatives for support and company.
To avoid such strife, the best advice may be to make financial decisions early and stick to them. Setting up a financial plan when the mind and will power is robust is preferable to being coerced into actions. However, circumstances change and sometimes plans have to be more fluid. This is where power of attorney comes in, one of the instruments the unscrupulous use to get their hands on an elderly relatives' money and assets. So there may also be a need for rest homes to play some role as the pivotal place where many of these decisions are made. Perhaps some kind of financial counsellor has to be on hand to offer impartial, independent advice to residents.
