Free Elders Rights WA diary to be available in Kalgoorlie-Boulder this month

Senior citizens of the Goldfields can note important dates and read up on their rights at the same time with the help of a diary developed by Legal Aid WA’s Elder Rights team. The free diary is filled with information about what rights senior West Australians have and how they can protect them. Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch launched the 2024 Elder Rights WA Legal Topics for Seniors Diary in Perth last month as part of Seniors Week, with copies to be made available across the State from mid-December. Legal Aid WA director of civil law Gemma Mitchell said the diary would provide a general guide to the law surrounding topics of interest to older people. “This functional 2024 diary includes more than 60 pages of legal information on how older Western Australians can protect their rights, with topics such as planning for the future, elder abuse, age discrimination, guardianship and administration, living with family, and ageing well,” she said. “It also includes tips to enhance wellbeing and contact information for a variety of service providers to support people with common concerns at this stage of life, which may impact on their legal matters. “This is a fantastic resource for older West Australians to stay informed, but we always encourage people to talk to a lawyer if any of the topics raise questions or concerns about their personal situation.” Ms Mitchell said the diary was developed with support from Legal Aid New South Wales, which had previously produced its own publications and helpedin the development of similar resources in other States. Elder Rights WA can provide free advice to older West Australians in person, over the phone or online regardless of where they live in WA. Elder Rights WA is a wrap-around service delivered by Legal Aid WA and supported by the Department of Communities which helps seniors over the age of 65, and First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse people aged 55 years or older. The free diary will be made available at Legal Aid WA offices and more than 60 distribution points across the State, including the electorate offices of local members of Parliament, libraries and some community legal centres.