ALONE calls for action on safeguarding legislation this Adult Safeguarding Day

ALONE says that safeguarding legislation in the health and social care sector must be a priority for the next Government 

Dublin, 8 November: ALONE, the organisation which enables older people to age at home, has called on political parties to prioritise safeguarding legislation in their manifestos ahead of the forthcoming General Election. 

The call comes on Adult Safeguarding Day, an initiative of Safeguarding Ireland, which aims to raise a greater understanding of adult abuse and safeguarding. This year’s Adult Safeguarding Day is themed around financial abuse and encourages the public to get informed and prevent financial abuse.  

Over 100 older people assessed by ALONE in 2023 were found to be at risk of abuse, with emotional abuse and financial abuse the biggest areas of concern. ALONE delivered interventions in many cases where abuse was identified, working with the relevant authorities. 

“In recent years, we have seen safeguarding issues hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons,” said ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan. “We urgently need to legislate for a national policy on safeguarding. We need a formal policy to make life safer for older people across a whole range of areas from home support to day care to nursing homes and mental health services.” 

Continuing, Moynihan said, “Elder abuse is an insidious form of abuse that often goes quietly unseen. Older people with health, financial, and other difficulties can be particularly at risk – this is the cohort ALONE works with. Over 1% of our assessments show evidence of abuse; any level of abuse is totally unacceptable. We’ll support any actions, across government and society, that help to stamp it out, but we need the state to take a lead.” 

“An Adult Safeguarding Bill has been in the Dáil since 2017”, said Moynihan. “ALONE has been among the many voices calling on successive governments to implement the bill, and they’ve all failed to do so. The next government must do this”. 

“We’ve seen some very welcome developments this year”, Moynihan continued, “with the Law Reform Commission report on a regulatory framework for adult safeguarding, and the Government consultation on safeguarding in the health and social care sector. But consultations and reports aren’t enough; older people need to see action on this”. 

In addition, ALONE is also calling for the next Government to fund and support the full implementation of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, CEO Moynihan reiterated that safeguarding is a vital election issue for older people. 

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected”, Moynihan concluded, “and older people will judge politicians and parties on results, not promises”. 

ALONE’s dedicated National Support and Referral Line is available on 0818 222 024, from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, and information can be found on ALONE’s website, www.alone.ie, for any older people who need our support 

Older people who feel they may be at risk of financial abuse should contact their bank, credit union or An Post for advice and guidance. Independent advice services such as the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, and Sage Advocacy are also available. 

If you are concerned about other forms of abuse, your local GP, Public Health Nurse and HSE Safeguarding and Protection Teams can also offer confidential support and guidance. Concerns about an older person’s safety or welfare should be reported to An Garda Síochána immediately.