Undue Influence and the Growing Problem of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can take many forms, including neglect, verbal and physical abuse, and financial abuse. According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, people who are aged 80 and older suffer two to three times the abuse rate of those in younger age brackets.

As modern health care continues to increase life expectancy, more elderly people than ever will need to depend upon other people who may or may not have their best interests at heart. In such cases, undue influence is a real threat that can be prevented or minimised with the help of our estate planning lawyers in Adelaide.

What Is Undue Influence?

Undue influence occurs when an inequality of power exists between two parties in a relationship. In elder law, this is most frequently seen when a vulnerable elderly person creates an important legal document such as their Will or Power of Attorney in response to the influence by someone close to them. In such cases, advantage is taken of the elderly person’s declining physical health, independence, mobility or mental health to derive some benefit, such as inclusion in the Will, receipt of more than their fair share of the estate, or gifts and loans under Power of Attorney.

Why Are the Elderly Vulnerable to Financial Abuse and Undue Influence?

Vulnerability to undue influence can occur for many reasons. If a family member is the carer of an elderly person, long-standing family relationship conflicts may play a part. Additionally, meeting the needs of an elderly person is stressful, particularly if there is no respite care, and carers sometimes use this stress as a justification or excuse to take advantage of a person financially. The carer may see this as fair compensation for the heavy physical and emotional tolls they have suffered. Whether they keep the change after grocery shopping trips or push for a larger piece of the estate, they feel justified in doing so after giving up so much of their lives to care taking. This sense of entitlement is a dangerous precursor to abuse.

Other perpetrators of elder financial abuse have different motives, and merely see the elderly person as an easy target of opportunity. You may have seen such stories in the news, where “Dad” suddenly acquires a new “friend”. These people swoop in and create a relationship of dependence so that the elderly person feels beholden to them. Other abusers may have addictive behaviours or psychological conditions that drive them to take advantage of the weak and vulnerable.

Adelaide Wills Lawyers Who Are on Your Side

Last-minute changes in Wills raise suspicion in people’s minds, and are sometimes challenged in Australian courts. To obtain advice on changing your Will and ensure that your assets are properly protected, consult; with the trusted professionals at Genders & Partners. Our experienced estate planning and testamentary trust team in Adelaide offer a free initial phone consultation.

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