Older people and legal advice – the need for joined up and creative approaches

This paper reports the findings from research conducted with older people in Northern<br/>Ireland which investigated whether their needs for legal information and advice were<br/>being met. One of the unique aspects of the research involved investigating the<br/>potential of the internet as a possible source for advising older people in relation to<br/>legal problems. The findings suggest that online legal information may frequently assist<br/>older people in identifying potential answers to their legal questions, but may not be an<br/>adequate substitute for personal communication and advice. The research also<br/>highlights the need for professionals to work together to meet the needs of older<br/>persons for legal advice and to safeguard their interests. Such ‘joined up’ approaches<br/>are particularly important, for example at the point of dementia diagnosis, where<br/>information sharing between health and social care professionals may significantly<br/>promote the legal and welfare interests of older people at a vulnerable point in their<br/>lives. This paper therefore turns to work by university-based legal clinics in the United<br/>States, such as the Elder Law Clinic at Pennsylvania State University, where social<br/>work or healthcare professionals, lawyers and law students collaborate to support older<br/>people in their search for resolution of legal problems.