People who are elderly

Abstract

A large and increasing proportion of patients in our hospitals are elderly. Usually their age will be of no legal relevance to their treatment or life-style. Nevertheless, several legal problems are associated, although not exclusively, with old age. These include:

• 1 Unhygienic homes. Very occasionally some people live in conditions that harm their own or threaten others’ health. There are powers to remove such people from their homes.

• 2 Managing property and money. Some people are unable, because of mental disorder, to manage their financial affairs. These problems are often associated with old age. While few people, however wise, may wish to prepare for being mentally disordered and incapable there are practical and individualised ways of preventing many problems from arising.

• 3 Special housing needs. With increasing problems of mobility some elderly people have special housing needs. Some people in hospitals might be better placed in such housing. The private sector provides some special housing where special laws apply.