Protecting the Rights of Seniors

The Seniors’ Legal & Support Service offers free legal and social work support for seniors (60 years and over) experiencing elder abuse, mistreatment or financial exploitation. We offer:

• Free legal advice
• Counselling
• Advocacy
• Referrals
• Support
• Community Education

What can the Seniors’ Legal & Support Service provide?

• Day-time appointments
• Home visits if needed
• A telephone service for clients and service providers

Who should contact the Seniors’ Legal & Support Service?

• Seniors who are concerned about elder abuse, mistreatment or financial exploitation, or a nominated representative
• Concerned family members or friends
• Service providers

What can the Seniors’ Legal & Support Service do for you?

• Provide information, advice and support
• Provide information on your legal rights
• Provide crisis and short-term counselling including the development of safety plans
• Refer you to other legal, consumer and support services
• Try to arrange pro bono legal assistance for more complex legal matters such as recovery of money or property
• Represent you in court or before tribunals (in certain circumstances)
• Provide community legal education

Helping Seniors to Overcome Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation

Elder abuse is any act within a relationship of trust, which results in harm to an older person. It can include:

• Intentionally hurting a person such as slapping, hitting or mistreating someone
• Intentionally damaging another person’s property (e.g. hurting pets or breaking belongings)
• Verbal intimidation, humiliation, harassment or threats of physical harm or abandonment
• Unwanted sexual or indecent behaviour towards the other person without their consent,
• Preventing a person from seeing others or denying them the right to make their own decisions,
• Intentional or unintentional failure to provide adequate care

What is meant by financial exploitation? Financial exploitation is:

• The illegal or improper use, or misappropriation of a person’s property or finances
• Forced changes to a will and other legal documents
• Denying someone the right to access and control their personal funds
• Unfair or fraudulent practices relating to retirement villages, age rental accommodation or residential parks

References

Click here for the Queensland Department of Communities Legal Support for Seniors

Click here to download the Seniors’ Legal and Support Service brochure

How to Contact the Seniors’ Legal & Support Service

Seniors’ Legal & Support Service: 223 Hume Street
Toowoomba (07) 46169700

Hours of Service:Our office is open from: 9 am – 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9 am – 4 pm on Friday.