Predatory marriage is a form of economic abuse, where in marriage is a cover for exploitation and economic gain.

It can have a devastating psychological and mental health impact on family members and friends of the victim.  The current legislation around Wills means that marriage will revoke an existing Will, and transfer the estate and assets to the spouse.  Predatory marriage may take place in secret, between two partners with large age differences, and wherein the older victim may be wealthy or lack mental capacity.

Current safeguards are not sufficient to protect older people, especially those suffering from dementia or without a capacity to marry.  

Hourglass Webinars

Throughout 2023, Hourglass have been hosting free webinars each month each one focusing on a different area around the abuse of older people.  Please click the link above for further details.

You can also watch the documentary “Inheritance Wars: Who Gets the Money” on 1st October 2023, Channel Five at 9pm.  The documentary tells the story of Joan Blass orginally from Barrow in Furness, Cumbria who was almost 92 years old with severe vascular dementia and terminal cancer.  Joan was unable to make the simplest decision and never knew that she had remarried just five months before her death.

Joan’s daughter Daphne Franks tells the story of a secret marriage, a revoked will, an unmarked grave, grooming, gaslighting, a Private Member’s Bill and a campaign to highlight all the issues.  The Franks family hope to fill all the gaps so nothing like this will ever happen to another family in the future – because, as they have learned, it’s currently happening to many of our elderly and vulnerable and their families.

You can also read our Quick Guide to...Predatory Marriage here

National Safeguarding Adults Week is an opportunity for organisations to come together to raise awareness of important safeguarding issues. The aim is to highlight key safeguarding key issues, start conversations and raise awareness of safeguarding best practice. 

Throughout the week CSAB will be disseminating briefings and lunch and learn sessions will also be taking place.  Watch this space for further information! 

Hoarding can be described as the collecting of, and inability to discard, large quantities of, goods, objects or information. It may involve neglecting aspects of the home and/or self, resulting in oor sanitary conditions and social isolation.  Hoarding has implications for physical and mental health, wellbeing, housing tenure and safety, which is why intervention to help the person change their hoarding behaviour is so important.

The earlier the intervention, the easier it is for the person to consider change.  Community Care have published 10 top tips when working with adults who hoard; 

1. Develop a rapport.
2. Find activities, work or education that the person enjoyed doing and try to help them engage in community activities.
3. Understand what feelings the person has about themselves, their house and why things are the way they are.
4. Use a strengths-based approach to determine the positive things that a person has in their life or can achieve for themselves and how they would like to manage risk.
5. Consider trauma-informed approaches and methods of motivation and communication.
6. Create cognitive dissonance – the difference between the person and their behaviours – to help them see themselves more positively.
7. Take one small step at a time with lots of encouragement.
8. Use a multi-agency response.
9. Consider wider safeguarding issues such as hate crime, domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour, safeguarding other adults or children in the property or historical abuse.
10. Do not force change if at all possible.

Carers UK has published a new best practice guide highlighting ways in which organisations can best support older carers who do not have access to the internet.  

A survey by Carers UK with organisations supporting older carers, such as local carers organisations and local charities, found that there are a number of issues faced by older carers who are digitally excluded, including loneliness and isolation (83%). The survey also found that one of the main barriers faced by older carers in accessing technology was a lack of confidence (88%).  The best practice guide makes a number of recommendations to help organisations support older carers who may not be online, by helping them to use technology or providing opportunities to receive support in-person.  

Cumbria Police report that rogue traders have been going door to door targeting elderly and vulnerable people.  Rogue traders can pretend to undertake work and then charge people inflated prices for the work.  

If you see suspicious activity like this, particularly in areas where elderly and vulnerable people live, please report to Cumbria Police straight away. Be vigilant and check on your neighbours, family and friends.