Curam Care Homes are happy to support Adult Safeguarding Day 2024.
Adult Safeguarding Day is an initiative of Safeguarding Ireland with an aim to raise a greater understanding of adult abuse and safeguarding.
For Adult Safeguarding Day 2024 the emphasis is on Financial Abuse.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding means putting measures in place to uphold our rights, support our health, reduce the risk of harm, and empower us to protect ourselves.
What is Adult Abuse?
Adult abuse happens whenever a person’s rights, independence or dignity are not respected. This abuse can happen deliberately or through a lack of knowledge – however every instance of not respecting a person’s rights is abuse, and in some cases can be a serious crime.
This abuse can take many forms. It can be financial, emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, coercive control, online, organisational, neglect or discrimination.
Financial Abuse
The focus for this years Adult Safeguarding Day is Financial Abuse.
Financial abuse is most common among older people, and a significant amount of financial abuse is carried out by someone known to the person, and can include the following:
- Keeping change or taking any cash that is left in the persons home
- Misusing a persons bank or credit card
- Being dishonest about social welfare payments
- Using a persons property without their permission
- Threatening to stop caring for someone unless they give in to demands
- Pressuring someone to change their Will, property deeds or Enduring Power of Attorney
To keep safe from Financial Abuse it is important to have a plan in place for how you would like to deal with money in the future.
In this video Tim Hanly, HSE National Safeguarding Office General Manager explains what financial abuse is:
Tips to help prevent Financial Abuse
If you could be vulnerable sometimes, but have the capacity to make decisions
- Never share your bank details. Keep your bank card, PIN number, online password and account number to yourself
- If you do needs some help first ask at your Bank, An Post or Credit Union for advice
- Regularly review your bank statements. Ask your Bank, An Post or Credit Union to send you monthly bank statements or view them online
- Make a Will. Set out what you would like to happy with your money or propery after you pass away
- Plan ahead – set up legal arrangements which include your wishes and give authority to the person you trust. These include an Enduring Power of Attorney or decision support arrangement.
- If you need independent advice contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS), the National Advocacy Service (NAS) or Sage Advocacy
MABS Helpline: 0818 07 2000 – available 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday
National Advocacy Service National Line: 0818 07 3000
Sage Advocacy: 01 536 7330
If you have challenges with decision making and need help
- Only share your details with the person that you trust most. Don’t share your bank details with your whole family or care team.
- Avoid keeping cash in your house
- Speak to your bank, An Post or Credit Union about opening an expenses account
- Keep your main account private and only share the expenses account
- Ask your bank for statements or check online regularly
- Get receipts. If you have someone helping you with shopping ask them to provide receipts and to keep a record of all spending
If you are helping someone here are some tips to help you support
- Plan ahead. If there is a concern that the person may not have capacity in the future advise them about putting in place an Enduring Power of Attorney or decision support arrangement
- It is 100% their money. No person has an entitlement to their money or property
- Provide the least amount of intervention necessary. The person has a right to their own decisions, even if they seem unwise. However be aware of online financial fraud and scams
- Keep receipts and records, and encourage the person to check their own bank statements
In this video Ciara Drain, Head of Vulnerable Customer Programme at AIB explains what Enduring Power of Attorney is:
Who to contact about Financial Abuse
If you are suffering from Financial Abuse or if you have a concern that someone is, you must report it.
- If there is an immediate and serious danger contact the Gardai at 999 or 112
- If financial abuse is ongoing report it to your local Gardai station or call the confidential line 1800 666 111
- If you notice unexplained changes in spending contact your bank, An Post or your Credit Union
- For an ongoing financial safeguarding issue contact your regional HSE Safeguarding team. Email socialcare@hse.ie or visit their website www.hse.ie/safeguarding
Contact your Financial Provider |
|
| AIB | 0818 227 056 |
| Bank of Ireland | 1800 946 146 |
| PTSB | 0818 818 721 |
| An Post | 01 705 8000 |
| Credit Union (contact your local branch) | creditunion.ie/contactus |
| Department of Social Protection | 071 919 3259 |
Get independent advice |
|
| Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) |
0818 07 2000 |
| National Advocacy Service |
0818 07 3000 |
| Sage Advocacy |
01 536 7330 |
Information provided by Safeguarding Ireland