Note also AGE UK Factsheet #78: Safeguarding older people from abuse and neglect
Protecting the elderly from financial abuse an urgent matter
The Yang Yin saga illustrates the issue of financial abuse of elders that few Singaporeans talk about ("Six years' jail for taking $1.1m from widow"; last Saturday, and "Study flags financial exploitation of elderly"; yesterday).
Sometimes, this is due to a potential loss of face. Mainly, it is because we do not know where to start.
Given our rapidly ageing population, safeguarding our elders from financial abuse should be an urgent matter on our national agenda. Both individuals and organisations can take proactive steps to prevent elder abuse.
Alarm bells must ring when an individual unrelated to a customer shows up at a bank to ask for his name to be added as a joint account holder, and even more so when large amounts of money are subsequently transferred into his personal account.
When I applied for a business bank account, a bank manager insisted on visiting my home to get a better picture of my situation.
Perhaps banks could implement similar anti-fraud protocols for customers of a certain age.
At least two bank staff should interview the account holders in private (in their own homes), to ascertain that the account holders have thought through the consequences of adding a stranger to their joint bank accounts.
Likewise, the additional account holders should be interviewed separately. Checks should be made to establish that they are what and who they say they are.
If there is any doubt, family, friends and other professionals approved by the account holder (such as doctors) should be consulted.
When unusual activities are noticed on the elderly person's bank accounts, a safeguarding protocol should be triggered, just as credit card companies sound the alert when they think a transaction is suspicious.
Despite these precautions, a determined fraudster who has taken time to "groom" his victim might still succeed.
As individuals, we must ensure that there is a network of people we can trust.
Lasting Power of Attorney should not be signed away without consultation with this network.
Anyone asked to be a witness to the drawing up of a will should be reminded of the responsibility that this entails. Perhaps they, too, need to sign a declaration - with information on how to report potential financial abuse - testifying to this, for "do-it-yourself" wills.
In addition, we should have a well-publicised helpline for people with concerns for their elderly family, friends and neighbours.
==
Response from Mr Lee Teck Chuan
Boost legal, social safeguards to protect the elderly
In recent times, we have read of sham marriages, nominated beneficiaries of Central Provident Fund (CPF) monies unrelated to a dead person and feuds over estates.
The perpetrators certainly came prepared, with tactics that seemed premeditated and well researched.
Lonely aged citizens are especially vulnerable to feigned affection ("Elderly people less able to process cues of social threat" by Ms Huang Yi; Sept 23).
We need to boost legal safeguards to protect our aged men and women ("Protecting the elderly from financial abuse an urgent matter" by Dr Lee Siew Peng; yesterday, "More types of elder abuse should be considered criminal offences" by Mr Jeffrey Law Lee Beng; Forum Online, Monday, "Govt unit saw over 100 cases of vulnerable adult abuse" and "Study flags financial exploitation of elderly"; both published on Monday).
Any person of a certain age should be accompanied by at least two relatives before he drafts his will, assigns Lasting Power of Attorney, opens a bank account, transfers funds beyond a threshold, or makes arrangements to dispose of his assets, including nominating beneficiaries to his CPF monies.
Utmost care must be exercised, and perhaps a certification of an aged person's mental state procured, before carrying out instructions given by such a person.
The law should afford watertight protection to the vulnerable aged, who may not have the capacity to act or are under the influence of unscrupulous people.
The authorities should be stringent in checking that visitors who stay here for an extended duration have legitimate reasons for doing so, and that their sponsors are genuine. They should also ensure that registered businesses carry out genuine activities.
Let us have comprehensive legal and social safeguards in place so that we can all grow old with dignity.
==
1 comment:
I'm in a I crisis here over my mum's assets which has been depleted by my siblings, eventhough I have proof of missing funds, jewelleries, emotional abuse, threathining behaviour I still can't find help with the law as they say it's a family problem. Who can put these unscrupulous people away. If the government can pass laws on jaywalking, chewing gum etc then why our elderly are not protected from bullies in the family, who lie, cheat, rob their Mother who gave birth to them. In the end when you think about it.....she did all for you and would you think she is going to carry these into the next world?????????
Post a Comment