Thursday 4 June 2009

A powerful campaigning and lobbying force for older people has welcomed groundbreaking research, launched today, which recommends drastic improvements in the area of legal advice for older people in Northern Ireland.

Age Sector Platform; which represents over 200,000 older people from across Northern Ireland, and whose members were involved in contributing to the research, has voiced its concerns with the findings; emphasising the increased need for legal guidance by people in their later years.

Ms Phil Evans, Vice-Chair of Age Sector Platform, commented: “It is unfortunate that many older people are reluctant to seek legal advice due to the unreasonable cost, unnecessary use of complicated language or a general distrust of the legal system.  Older people are often in real need of legal advice when making the most important decisions of their life like drafting a will, organising care arrangements and making health related decisions.  These can be unfamiliar and confusing times for older people and the more support and guidance they receive during these times, the better they will cope.”

Ms Evans continued: “We are pleased to see that this research, by the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP), has recommended improved communication between health and social care professionals and the legal profession; whilst also recommending that jargon free language should be used in all communication with older people.  The suggestion that a generic Legal Guide and Directory of Services for Older People should be produced is also of great merit and would definitely be of considerable value to those in their later years.”

“Of course, action is needed to ensure that the findings from this research are used to good effect.  Age Sector Platform looks forward to examining ways in which the recommendations which have been made by the researchers can be progressed.  Older people deserve better from the legal system.”