Contents
1
Message from the Commissioner.................................................................................................................................................................7
2
Executive summary..........................................................................................................................................................................................8
3
2.1
Key findings................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
2.2
Summary of recommendations.........................................................................................................................................................................12
Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................................................................13
3.1
Background and rationale...................................................................................................................................................................................13
3.2
Objectives...................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
3.3
Methodology and sampling approach...........................................................................................................................................................14
3.4
Limitations..................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
3.5
4
5
6
7
8
Representativeness of the principal sample.........................................................................................................................................15
(b)
Online surveys....................................................................................................................................................................................................15
(c)
Demographics....................................................................................................................................................................................................15
(d)
Confidence bias and social acceptability..............................................................................................................................................15
Terminology...............................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Awareness and use.........................................................................................................................................................................................17
4.1
Awareness of FEPOAs...........................................................................................................................................................................................18
4.2
Value of FEPOAs......................................................................................................................................................................................................18
4.3
Use of FEPOAs.........................................................................................................................................................................................................20
Knowledge and understanding..................................................................................................................................................................25
5.1
General knowledge of FEPOAs.........................................................................................................................................................................26
5.2
Knowledge of principal and appointed decision-maker rights and responsibilities..................................................................27
Education..........................................................................................................................................................................................................31
6.1
FEPOA education needs......................................................................................................................................................................................32
6.2
Considerations when developing FEPOA education and information............................................................................................35
Principal and appointed decision-maker considerations and experiences....................................................................................39
7.1
Principal considerations........................................................................................................................................................................................40
7.2
Appointed decision-maker considerations..................................................................................................................................................47
7.3
Appointed decision-makers' understanding of their role and the principal’s wishes...............................................................48
7.4
Principal and appointed decision-maker experiences............................................................................................................................50
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................................................................................57
8.1
9
(a)
Summary of findings and recommendations..............................................................................................................................................57
(a)
Raising awareness of FEPOAs and the value of having one in place........................................................................................57
(b)
Filling the FEPOA education gap and reducing the risk of financial abuse...........................................................................57
(c)
National consistency in FEPOA laws.......................................................................................................................................................59
8.2
Ensuring a robust system of FEPOA and elder abuse supports and services..............................................................................60
8.3
Areas for further research....................................................................................................................................................................................61
Appendices......................................................................................................................................................................................................62
9.1
Weighting...................................................................................................................................................................................................................62
9.2
People who spoke a language other than English at home: Demographic breakdown..........................................................63
9.3
Survey instrument...................................................................................................................................................................................................65