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Silently pervasive and often difficult to detect, elder abuse is a hidden shame, affecting some of the nation’s most vulnerable people. How is the legal profession responding to this growing area of need and what’s led to this ‘perfect storm’?
The legal profession is at the forefront of the elder abuse issue. Whether it’s providing legal advice or drafting documents like wills and enduring powers of attorney for clients, lawyers are uniquely placed to identify situations where elder abuse may be occurring.
To address this social issue, we must ask the questions: What legislative guardrails are needed to safeguard the rights of older Australians? Should lawyers adopt a multidisciplinary approach, working with health providers and social workers, to ensure that Australia’s older population is not left behind or forgotten?