Money ‘handling’, financial abuse and elderly people with dementia: implications for welfare professionals

The ageing of the elderly population will mean an increase in the numbers of people with dementia and the thrust of the community care reforms suggest that many of these will continue to live in mainstream and sheltered housing. This article draws upon two different research projects to explore one implication of these trends, namely the ‘money handling’ issues (pension collection, bill payments, etc.) raised for social services and in particular for field level welfare professionals. The administrative framework for handling the social security benefits of others is shown to be inadequate with few safeguards over those who take on appointeeship roles. The article then goes on to draw upon focus group interviews with 37 field level staff to illustrate their anxieties and concerns over such issues as money left or lost in the house, their vulnerability to accusations of financial abuse and their need for guidance on when to challenge relatives who appear to perform appointeeship responsibilities not in the best interests of the elderly person. It is concluded that social services authorities need to improve radically the training, support and good practice guidance available to field level staff on personal finance issues.