Hutchinson Legal » Eldercare Legal News

Eldercare – Home Support

editor — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:05:58 +0000

My family decided that we needed to re-do our deck as some of the boards at the edges had become warn. When our builder son removed the boards, to our amazement most of the support beams had become rotten and weathered. It could have been disastrous.

In an article recently in the Maroondah Leader (18 October 2011), residents were alerted to the safety concerns that our homes can present. Drawing on Archicentre’s Home Renovation Services Report, 42 per cent of Maroondah homes were found to have significant trip and slip hazards, 33 per cent electrical hazards and 20 per cent significant cracking caused by rotten timber stumps.

For older persons, especially those living alone and independently, it is sometimes difficult to attend to the numerous home maintenance demands; consequently, the home can become neglected and these safety concerns more readily apparent.

The article mentioned home safety inspection telephone numbers from Archicentre that are available to age pensioners, Veterans’ Affairs card holders and people with a disability. The numbers are: 1300 136 513 and 9815 1900.

The numbers of older persons wanting to remain living in their homes may be increasing and alongside that comes the demand for extra services. The Archicentre inspection reports may assist residents live longer and more safely in their homes. At Hutchinson Legal we are aware of the legal concerns that comes with this growing need and we can assist residents plan appropriately for the years ahead, whether in advising about home care services, the advantage and disadvantages about retirement or nursing home facilities or assisting with the legal documents that empower older persons and accord them a greater measure of security and control around their assets, and principally their main asset: their home.

Like most things, as indeed in our own home, early attention and intervention can prevent disasters.

If we can assist, please call Hutchinson Legal on 9870 9870.

Seniors’ Festival

editor — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:55 +0000

The 27th Victorian Seniors’ Festival will be taking place from 4 October 2009 until 11 October 2009. Concerts, theatre and sporting events (many at low-cost or even free) are planned for metropolitan and regional Victoria.

The Victorian Governement will be providing free metropolitan, V/Line services and regional town bus services to those with Seniors Cards during the festival.

Opening Day Celebrations will be held at Federation Square on the Sunday 4 October 2009 featuring: The Victorian Police Showband and Pipe Band, Dr Rock and the Louisiana Shakers. The U3A and other festival supporters will provide stalls, entertainment and information for all ages.

Free programs are available at any Coles store.

Human Rights and Older People

tim — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:30:06 +0000

Human rights are relevant for everyone, and they are important for older people. The law provides that we are all entitled to the enjoyment of human rights without discrimination of any kind, including discrimination on the basis of our age.

Some of the major human rights problems faced by older people in Australia include:

workplace discrimination;
balancing paid work with caring responsibilities;
access to appropriate and adequate aged care facilities and health care;
abuse – including financial, physical and psychological abuse of elderly people;
homelessness, poor living standards and dependency on social security payments;
barriers in accessing government services and other opportunities to participate in community/public life.

There are limited human rights protections for older people at the moment. However, if you feel you have been discriminated against because of your age, you can make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission under the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth). There are limited protections under this Act for age discrimination for the following:

1. voluntary bodies – in regard to membership, benefits, facilities and services;

2. where the discrimination occurs as a result of direct compliance with certain other laws (ie taxation and superannuation).

3. relatives and people who are carers of older people.

(adapted from Australian Human Rights Commission information sheet)

Powers of Attorney

tim — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:28:16 +0000

The Law Reform Committee will be undertaking an enquiry into powers of attorney with a final report to be tabled in the Victorian Parliament by 31 December 2009. One issue of the enquiry will be to examine the extent of elder abuse and the all too disturbing pattern of attorney’s misappropriating funds.

Wills and Bushfire Information Kit

tim — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:26:43 +0000

Many families are now trying to gather themselves after their loss from the fires on Black Saturday. Some have contacted solicitors to enquire about their Will: what can they do if they have lost their original Will in the fire?; what can they do if someone died and the original Will was destroyed?

The Probate office through the Supreme Court website has made available a ‘Bushfire Information Kit’ that attempts to answer many questions such as those above. They also have a contact line: Ms Raelene Smith (03) 9603 9286 or Ms Rose Gontran (03) 9603 9284.

These recent experiences highlight the advantage of having solicitor made Wills rather than kit made Wills: original Wills or even copies made through solicitors can be resurrected and used for the purposes of probate applications and can mean that a matter not drag on for too long or drain the Estate of its funds.