Ms P: a case study in elder financial abuse (Ireland)

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the case study of an older woman who was subject to elder financial abuse by a home help in the Republic of Ireland. Design/methodology/approach – The design of the research is a case study. Findings – It considers the indicators which alerted professionals to the concerns and the measures taken to protect the woman. The paper particularly highlights the co-operation of the large number of inter-agency multi-disciplinary professionals involved in resolving the case. The paper also considers the issue of capacity and the current legal background in the Republic of Ireland and internationally relevant to protecting older people from elder abuse. Originality/value – The paper has not identified any published case studies of elder financial abuse within the Republic of Ireland, despite hundreds of cases being reported annually. Case reports may be of interest to those working in the field as a means of describing successful management strategies, and may highlight practical areas of difficulty such as conflict or lack of communication between agencies. They may also serve to heighten awareness of abuse in general.