Age Concern boss Claudette Fleming says elderly people should think twice before signing over homes to relatives who could then neglect both them and the property.

She fears Bermuda could mirror the US where 62 percent of all elderly abuse cases are financial ones.

She said: "A lot of it has to do with scarcity of housing.

"Younger people think mum has a house, why pay half a million dollars? Let's live in mum's house.

"If the housing crisis escalates we will see more and more of this.

"We liaise with Government and we see this type of thing happening all the time.'' She said seniors signed over deeds because their pensions couldn't cope with repair bills but then they found their children reneged on promises to care for them and the home.

And she added: "Whose responsibility is it to maintain the home once the senior only has lifetime tenancy instead of owning the home?'' Some seniors then ended up sectioned off in a separate apartment as children carved up the home, said Ms. Fleming.

"Whose responsibility is it to ensure the other section of the house is maintained while the older person is living in it? "They also sign over their homes because they want to leave something to their heirs.

"But do we need to leave things behind, particularly if you end up living in poverty. Is that wise? "Some people aren't getting good legal advice, but even if it's in the agreement who's going to check? "No one is responsible to make sure the legal agreement is kept to. There's no law or regulatory agency that would check that.'' Ms Fleming said seniors needed sound legal advice if they were considering giving the deeds to their children.

The Royal Gazette recently ran a story about an Alzheimer's sufferer who was left in a filthy and faeces-strewn flat before a kindly daughter won a lengthy legal battle for power of attorney from a sibling.

Ms. Fleming said: "Since that time we have had two more calls about similar cases of people living in squalor while ownership of their house was being sorted out.'' Shadow Health Minister Kim Young backed calls from Age Concern for new laws to tackle abuse of the elderly.

And she said mentally and physically challenged people who are dependent on constant care should also get new protection.

Elderly warned Mrs. Young said elderly abuse appeared to be on the up.

"There are cases of siblings and care givers not caring for our elders adequately. There should be protection for elders under the law.'' Many are reluctant to speak out for fear of reprisal said Mrs. Young and she suggested mandatory reporting by professionals when the vulnerable were in danger.

"People who are dependent on others are not the same as the average citizen as the Health Minister states.

"Seniors and others in a position of dependence are reluctant to speak out for themselves in cases of abuse because they fear retribution from the care giver.

"And who would care for them if the care giver withdrew their services? Where would they go? "It is imperative we have sufficient professionals out in the field monitoring the care given to our seniors.

"And we need legislation that requires mandatory reporting -- similar to the proposed mandatory reporting of child abuse.'' Mrs. Young said mandatory reporting of neglect, emotional abuse, intimidation and physical abuse would ensure seniors could enjoy a decent quality of life.

She pointed out that most care givers did an excellent job and needed support for what could be a stressful, exasperating and tiring job.

"Some of those who are in need of care are very physically and verbally aggressive and uncooperative. The majority of care givers give first class care to those in need, so it is important to provide support for those relatives who become care givers.'' She suggested support groups, educational tips on caring for someone and inexpensive respite care to give carers a break.

SENIORS SR