SYSTEMIC ABUSES OF ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS LEADS TO A PUBLIC MEETING TO ADDRESS CRISIS
MEDIA RELEASE, Wednesday 12th June 2024
On behalf of: Matilda Bawden (B.A.;B.Soc. Admin.)
In response to the alarming rise in systemic abuses against elderly and disabled individuals, the Australian Association to Stop Guardianship & Administration Abuse Inc (AASGAA) invites all members of the community, especially those affected by these issues, to attend a public meeting this Sunday 16th June, 2024 at 2pm.
This is an opportunity for people to share their stories, voice concerns and work together towards effective solutions. AASGAA aims to bring attention to these pressing issues and advocate for necessary changes to protect our most vulnerable citizens from government overreach as the Office of Public Advocate (OPA), Adult Safeguarding Unit (ASU) and South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) have shown a propensity to ignore State laws that protect vulnerable, disabled and elderly persons from human rights abuses.
Human rights advocate and Social Worker, Matilda Bawden says, “Nursing homes are becoming the first option for many elderly persons when they need substantial care. Hospital Social Workers are routinely funnelling elderly patients into urgent SACAT hearings; even where family members are quite willing and able to manage the discharge of patients into suitable home-care options, and often with easy access to My Aged Care (MAC) supports.”
Families are routinely being frozen out of critical decision-making and Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPOA) and Advanced Care Directives (ACD) over the elderly person are routinely ignored and overridden by the State. As we speak, there is a woman sitting in a nursing home with no significant cognitive impairment who has been forcibly separated from every significant person in her life, while the OPA has totally ignored her ACD wishes to live in her own home, cared for by her son, surrounded by family and friends; while her son is barred by the OPA from seeing his mother. Her choice of TWO treating doctors and choice of natural medicines have been taken away from her for no reason whatsoever and she has been denied the right to even know that: she is under State Guardianship; and, that her home has been prepared for sale without her knowledge or consent by a daughter who doesn’t live in the same state and has no interest in caring for her. This story is a travesty and a text-book example of absolutely everything that should never have been allowed to happen to an elderly person, but the OPA made certain to violate the woman’s every human right. Meanwhile all pleas to the Attorney General and OPA have been ignored.
Key Facts Highlighting the Crisis:
Misconduct of the SACAT: Interstate applications are being accepted by SACAT, overriding the Constitutional rights of the vulnerable person to access a higher jurisdiction in a proper court of law, where penalties for perjury apply.
Inappropriate Judicial Handling: Abuse cases are being dealt with in civil tribunals instead of proper courts, where the proper rules of evidence apply along with penalties for perjury.
Revocation of Valid Powers of Attorney: There is a troubling trend of valid Powers of Attorney being revoked for no reason at all or alleged “family conflict”; negating the very reason why EPOA’s and ACD’s are drawn up in the first instance.
Increase in Deathbed Wills: The frequency of deathbed wills is on the rise.
Victims’ Needs Ignored and Wishes Never Sought: Basic human rights are trampled as the OPA usually makes no effort to comply with the victim’s wishes or meet their needs (e.g., NDIS and SA Housing applications not lodged; personal assets squandered, etc…).
Victims' Helplessness: Many victims are powerless to stop the abuse they endure as the OPA often denies them vital information about their personal affairs (e.g., why they are forced to live in a nursing home; why they are placed under guardianship; what is being done with their property or assets, etc…).
Isolation and Institutionalization: Victims are often isolated, drugged and institutionalized as the OPA blocks the victim from contact with family or friends.
Financial Exploitation: Victims are stripped of their income and assets and complaints are often ignored.
Homelessness: Many victims end up homeless or transient as a result of guardianship abuses (e.g., when their NDIS plans are wasted or their personal assets depleted by the Public Trustee).
White Collar Crime: There is an increase in white-collar crime targeting vulnerable individuals (NDIA Planners, OPA and NDIS Specialist Support Coordinators usually collude to get and keep the person under State Guardianship).
Government Inaction: There is a significant lack of action by governments to implement real changes needed to stop the abuse, while the South Australian Attorney General ignores formal complaints and irrefutable evidence of human rights abuses.
“My own mother was almost guardianshipped at the Lyell McEwin Hospital literally for “not speaking English”, while my entire family’s effort to discharge her was denied and obstructed, despite formal EPOA and ACD documents on hand. Mum wasn’t even in hospital for any cognitive impairment, but a simple cough was used to make a false stroke and dementia diagnosis, and a cognitive assessment ordered without anyone’s consent”, Ms. Bawden said, “These careless, reckless and sloppy “assessments” are dangerous and must stop and the sacred place of families in decision-making must not be ignored!”.
To that end, a public meeting will be held to discuss critical issues and potential solutions. The meeting will take place on Sunday 16th June 2024 at 2pm at the Adelaide Bowling Club, 58 Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town (located in Rymill Park).
For more information, please visit www.AASGAA.org, Email: info@aasgaa.org, or Mobile 0412 836 685
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Matilda Bawden (B.A.;B.Soc. Admin.)
Social Worker/Specialist Support Co-Ordinator
Founding Member of Community Linkages, Inclusion & Innovation Centre (CLIIC)
ABN: 71 505 060 826
Mob: 0412 836 685
Thank you for sharing! 🙏