Elder Abuse and Neglect-The Legal Framework

This article looks at the legal framework for defining and responding to elder abuse and neglect in the English legal system. The role of the criminal law, domestic violence legislation, the provision of Local Authority services, registration and inspection of residential homes and dealing with financial matters are considered for their appropriateness to deal with issues and abuse. The emphasis throughout is on a legal paradigm of rights, duties and remedies. Proposals for legal reform are also discussed, and some comparisons are made with other legal systems.