“The particular focus for the ‘Tell Someone’ campaign is around older people who may be less able to protect themselves.

22/09/11

A campaign called ‘Tell Someone’ will be launched in Aberdeen next week [Monday 26 September] by the three Adult Protection Committee’s in Grampian to raise awareness of the financial harm of vulnerable older people in the North-east of Scotland. 

Mo Ramsay, Independent Convener of the Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Adult Protection Committees will welcome delegates to the event being held at Aberdeen Football Club, Pittodrie and outline why financial harm was chosen for the campaign.

She will also provide an overview of further activities planned throughout the year which include advertising and events.

Mo said: “Financial harm is the most prevalent issue within the sphere of adult protection and an example of this is when a friend, relative or carer is stealing money or possessions from an adult who is vulnerable due to their age, or through disability.

“The particular focus for the ‘Tell Someone’ campaign is around older people who may be less able to protect themselves.

“We want to increase referrals to our teams from this group and we know statistically that the older generation can be targets.

“We want to encourage people to report anything they think is suspicious to their local authority’s adult protection team in order that it can be investigated and reduce the prevalence of harm.

“Getting the adult support and protection message across to professionals and members of the public is a huge undertaking and I also want to thank Craig Brown of Aberdeen Football Club for his support.

“There is a long way to go in increasing knowledge and understanding and making improvements in this important area.”

Aberdeen Football Club manager Craig Brown is backing the campaign and said: “As a club we are wholly supportive of local campaigns like this that will improve the lives of older people in our communities.

“This campaign resonates with me as many of our supporters are older or may have a relative or friend that they could be concerned about and I encourage people to tell someone’ if they are concerned.

“I wish the three authorities and their partners all the best with this campaign.”

The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness of adult protection issues, specifically the financial abuse of older adults.

The launch will be attended by approximately 100 people and will include professionals, volunteers, service users, carers and other interested community representatives.

The launch event will also include a short performance by Out of the Darkness, a theatre company based in Elgin.

The success of the campaign will be measured by an increase in referrals related to older people to the three local authorities in 2011/2012.

Financial harm can generally be classified in two broad categories either through exploitation by a person known, such as a family member, acquaintance, caregiver, person acting with power of attorney or guardian.

Harm can also occur through exploitation by a stranger, including con artists, unscrupulous salesmen or workman, or person representing a bogus charity.

A typical scenario of financial harm could involve:

• An older person on their own with a son or daughter who has power of attorney. The older person has a great degree of financial wealth/property and is vulnerable, the family members are capitalising on this and spending the money.
• An older person living alone in a flat who relies on a neighbour or friend to go shopping and never gets change as the person siphons off the money for themselves.
• A carer for an older person who is making regular personal telephone calls from their phone and puts pressure on the older person to give them gifts or money.
• An older person being targeted by bogus workmen or scam mail to extort money.
• An older person being charged excessive rent or fees for services. The perpetrator charges the adult an excessive rent or unreasonable fees for basic services such as transportation, food, or medicine.

The outcome on older people can be devastating. Many lose large sums of money, lose property they have lived in for years, do not receive benefits to which they are entitled, incur large debts or simply do not have enough money to live on.

It also impacts on people emotionally and mentally leading to depression, anxiety and loss of confidence to live independently.

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CouncilNews/ci_cns/pr_tellsomeone_220911.asp