PROTECTING ELDERLY PEOPLE FROM EXPLOITATION

That this House is concerned that many vulnerable older people are at risk of exploitation including financial abuse; notes that at least 130,000 older people have suffered some form of financial abuse by somebody known to them, with elderly women who are living on their own at greatest risk, according to research by Age UK; believes that there must be substantial penalties for those who breach the trust of elderly people by exploiting them for financial gain; believes that all allegations of exploitation must be thoroughly investigated; and calls on the Government to take steps to ensure that the system in place for investigating safeguarding concerns in relation to vulnerable older people is working effectively across the country as well as ensuring that police have sufficient resources to investigate such allegations.