With Christmas fast approaching, it’s a time when most people are thinking about buying presents for friends and family.
But for many people in Rhondda Cynon Taf the festive period will be a time of financial misery.
Every year, countless numbers of people are subjected to and fall victim to some kind of financial abuse.
Financial abuse has many faces and is often associated with unscrupulous individuals preying on older people – but this is only part of the picture.
Especially during the Christmas period, people of all ages fall victim to theft, fraud, exploitation and pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions.
And the culprit is often someone that the victim knows – financial abuse by a family member or friend is on the increase.
From things like denying a person access to funds to making them solely responsible for all finances while handling money irresponsibly. Money becomes a tool by which the abuser can further control the victim, ensuring either financial dependence, or shifting the responsibility and placing extra pressure on the victim.
In 2008/2009, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council dealt with 564 adult protection referrals. Although physical abuse remains the highest category of abuse experienced by local adults, many adults are also subjected to financial abuse. Most disturbingly, it is particularly prevalent for people who have a mental health problem or learning disability but also affects both younger and older adults who have a physical or sensory impairment.
“There’s a growing awareness that this kind of abuse is a very real problem in our society,” said Councillor Mike Forey, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services.
“In the UK at any one time, hundreds of thousands of adults are suffering some kind of abuse. But at this time of year in particular our thoughts turn to those who are and will suffer financially.
“We know that there will be many people who suffer this Christmas but who are maybe too scared to come forward or unsure about the help that is available to them.
“We can reassure them that there are dedicated officers at the Council who can help people in a vulnerable position and will work with them to try and help resolve their problems.
“There’s no need to suffer in silence.”
One of the officers who work with vulnerable adults, Christine Davies, said:
“Some of the signs that might alert us to people being financially abused could be their sudden inability to pay bills, or buy food or clothes.
“It could be that they may be living in unnecessarily poor conditions especially when this has developed recently. Maybe their personal possessions have gone missing from their home without a satisfactory explanation, or maybe someone is saying they are taking responsibility for paying their rent, bills and clearly is not doing so.”
If you would like some information on ways to help you safeguard your finances or you would like some additional information or speak to someone from the Adult Protection Team call 01443 425425.
