dc.contributor.advisor |
Bartley, A |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Harrison-Fletcher, Christine |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2019-01-10T01:00:30Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2018 |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/45081 |
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dc.description |
Full Text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
en |
dc.description.abstract |
Aim: The purpose of this research study is to explore who could fulfil the role of welfare guardians (WGs) to unbefriended adults (UAs) in Aotearoa. Over the last thirty years, since the inception of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act in 1988, a number of researchers have noted that there is no provision made to supply welfare guardians where there is no willing or suitable family or friend to fulfil this role. The New Zealand population is aging with a concomitant rise in the prevalence of dementia. New Zealand families are smaller and more geographically spread. Conflict within families and abuse of vulnerable adults is increasingly reported. New Zealand has an obligation to ensure important decisions about living, care and medical arrangements are legally made for, and with, people who are unable to make or need support to make these decisions. Decisions about medical intervention or nonintervention are more complex than ever, as possibilities for life prolonging treatments and cure are discovered. Methods: Seven semi-structured interviews with key informants (KIs) were digitally audio recorded, transcribed and content analysed to elicit crucial themes. Findings: Key informants expressed many of the same concerns regarding various models for arranging WGs for UAs highlighted by local and overseas literature, and offered details and suggestions about the context in Aotearoa New Zealand of those concerns. KIs were aware of practitioners that do successfully recruit non-family volunteers to act as WGs for UA. KIs advocated for training, supervision and monitoring for all WGs, family or volunteer. KIs, along with scholars in the field, caution that volunteer WGs should not be appointed in cases where serious mental illness or conflicted family situations are present. KIs were attracted to the concept of an Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) that could provide public guardians for UAs, and support family guardians, because they acknowledged that WG role could be complex. KIs noted that often family WGs and Enduring Power of Attorneys (EPOAs) needed education around how to practice supported decision-making. KIs saw a need for an OPG to have a broader role responding to reports of concern such as elder abuse; maintaining a register of EPOAs and orders; monitoring and supervising WGs and EPOAs; and supporting UAs at lower levels of impairment, not just people wholly lacking capacity. KIs underlined a need for education and measures to encourage more adults to appoint EPOAs in Aotearoa. Conclusions: In the short term key informants believe Auckland does need WGs for unbefriended adults and a Welfare Guardianship Trust, such as operating in Wellington and Otago could be set up. Key informants and the literature cautions that volunteer WGs should not be appointed in complex cases or where there is active family conflict. Longer term, key informants supported a system such as an Office of the Public Guardian which could provide public guardians of last resort to unbefriended adults. Key informants supported an Office of the Public Guardian with a range of complementary functions that could optimise support and quality of life for these most vulnerable adults. |
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dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
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dc.relation.ispartof |
Masters Thesis - University of Auckland |
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dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA99265102913602091 |
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dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. |
en |
dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Full Text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nz/ |
en |
dc.title |
Welfare Guardians For Unbefriended Adults In Aotearoa |
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dc.type |
Thesis |
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thesis.degree.discipline |
Social Work |
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thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
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thesis.degree.level |
Masters |
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dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The author |
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pubs.elements-id |
759358 |
en |
pubs.record-created-at-source-date |
2019-01-10 |
en |
dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112936561 |
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