Adult Safeguarding Day - Safeguarding Ireland

ADULT SAFEGUARDING DAY is the major annual public awareness drive of safeguarding Ireland which takes place on the second Friday of each November (Nov 8th in 2024).

It is an initiative of Safeguarding Ireland, and supported by the HSE, and will be in its fourth year in 2024. It is coordinated in partnership with organisations across the health, social, financial and justice sectors.

The aim on Friday November 8th is to raise a greater understanding of adult abuse and safeguarding. The emphasis in the 2024 is on Financial Abuse, particularly the form where the abuser is known to the person.

Summary – prevent Financial Abuse

Keep in control of your money, property and social welfare benefits as much as possible
Avoid sharing your bank card and pin number, account number, or access to online banking
If you need help – first ask for advice from your bank, An Post or Credit Union
If you must get help with day to day spending, choose only a person you really trust and limit their access
Ask the person for receipts and get monthly account statements
Plan for the future by making an Enduring Power of Attorney.

Safeguarding and Adult Abuse

Safeguarding means putting measures in place to uphold our rights, support our health and wellbeing, reduce risk of harm – and empower us to protect ourselves.

Adult abuse happens when a person’s rights, independence, or dignity are not respected. This can be deliberate, or caused by a lack of knowledge, or omission of care. However, all circumstances of not respecting a person’s rights are abuse and in some cases a serious crime.

There are many forms of abuse including – financial, emotional and psychological, physical, sexual, organisational, online, neglect, coercive control, or discrimination.

Approximately 14,000 cases of alleged abuse, and 1,500 cases of financial abuse, are reported to the HSE Safeguarding and Protection Teams each year, although the actual figures (what is not reported) are thought to be much higher.

About Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is a serious form of abuse and is particularly common among older people.

While the majority of people are honest, it has been estimated internationally that one in ten people are dishonest in how they manage another person’s money, or property.

Surprisingly, a significant amount of financial abuse is carried out by people known to the person.

This can involve people we know well – a family member, carer, neighbour, worker, or social welfare Agent doing the following:

Keeping change, or taking cash that is around the house
Misusing a bank card, or online banking
Being dishonest about social welfare payments
Using property or possessions without agreement or permission

Threatening withdrawal of care unless a person complies with money or property demands
Pressurising to change a Will, property deeds, or Enduring Power of Attorney.

It could be that the person committing the abuse has themselves a money difficulty, gambling problem, or addiction.

To keep safe from this abuse – there is a need to plan how we will manage our money in the future, particularly if we are likely to face challenges with capacity.

There is also a risk of online financial fraud and scams, but this campaign is focused on the form of financial abuse when the abuser is known to us.

2024 – Videos on Financial Abuse

Understanding – Financial Abuse

Forms of – Financial Abuse

Tips to Prevent – Financial Abuse

Safe Banking – Financial Abuse

An EPA and Safe Banking – Financial Abuse

Make an Enduring Power of Attorney – Financial Abuse

Tips to ‘Prevent’ Financial Abuse

1. If you could be vulnerable at times, but have decision-making capacity

Don’t share bank details – keep your bank card and PIN number, account number and online passwords to yourself.
If you need help first ask your bank, An Post, or Credit Union for advice
Get monthly bank statements – ask your bank, An Post account, or Credit Union to send you monthly statements, or regularly review your account online
If you need independent advice – contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), the National Advocacy Service (NAS), or Sage Advocacy
Make a Will – set out what you want to happen to your money and property after you die.
This makes sure that your wishes are known and can be followed. Your Solicitor can help you with making one
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.

2. If you have challenges with decision-making and need help

Only share with your most trusted person – don’t share your details with your ‘whole family’ or ‘care team’. Think about who you trust the most and limit their help to only what you really need
Use less cash – avoid keeping cash in the house. Set up direct debits
Talk with your bank, An Post or Credit Union about setting up an expenses account.
Keep your main account private and only share the expenses account.
Ask for hardcopy statements, or check regularly online
Get receipts – ask the person who helps you to provide receipts and records of all spending.

3. For people who help – how to support a person

Plan ahead – if there is a concern that the person may not have capacity in the foreseeable future – advise them about putting in place an Enduring Power of Attorney, or decision support arrangement
It is 100% their money always – no family member, carer, neighbour, or Agent has an entitlement to a person’s money or property – even if caring for or helping them
Least support – provide the least intervention necessary, the person has a right to their own decisions even if they seem unwise, but be aware of online financial fraud and scams
Keep receipts and records – and encourage the person to access their own bank statements.

4. For organisations – tips to reduce Financial Abuse

Train staff – to support needs of vulnerable customers, to spot financial abuse and to take action
Implement the Assisted Decision-making Act – support all customers as much as possible to make their own decisions
Increase checks and balances – the Department of Social Protection, banks, An Post and Credit Unions should strengthen checks to identify financial abuse and fraud.

Who to Contact about Financial Abuse

If you are suffering financial abuse, or you have a concern about someone, report it:

If there is a serious and immediate danger, call the Gardaí at 999 or 112
If financial abuse is ongoing, report it urgently to the local Garda station (directory at www.garda.ie), or call the confidential line at 1800 666 111
If you notice unexplained changes in spending – contact your bank, An Post, or your branch of the Credit Union
For an ongoing financial safeguarding issue contact your regional HSE Safeguarding Team. Email socialcare@hse.ie, or see 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 Unions – contact your local branch see www.creditunion.ie/contactus/
Dept. of Social Protection (social welfare payments) – 071 919 3259

Get Independent Advice

Money Advice and Budgeting Service – www.mabs.ie / 0818 07 2000
National Advocacy Service – www.advocacy.ie / 0818 07 3000
Sage Advocacy – www.sageadvocacy.ie / 01 536 7330

Plan Ahead

Make an Enduring Power of Attorney – talk with your trusted person and Solicitor
Decision Support Service – www.decisionsupportservice.ie / or 01 211 9750.