Ireland’s Legal Leap: New Elder-Abuse Law Cracks Down on Coercive Control

As populations age worldwide, governments are redefining elder abuse laws to address coercive control, strengthen safeguards, and close reporting gaps, signalling a global shift towards more accountable and protective care systems. (Source: Fotor AI)

Policy & Regulatory Highlights (Ireland)

Expanded Elder-Abuse Offence: Coercive Control Included

Ireland’s Law Reform Commission recommends criminalizing coercive control and exploitation of any at-risk adult, not just intimate partners. This includes behaviours like financial manipulation, isolation, or forcibly entering a home, now proposed as standalone criminal offences. The proposal also contains mandatory reporting duties for certain professions, and a safeguarding body with the authority to enter premises if needed.

Bridging Gaps in Protection and Accountability

Ireland’s current legislation under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 only criminalizes coercive behavior within intimate partnerships. Safeguarding Ireland advocates for broadening the definition to include family members and carers, recognising that coercive control also happens outside intimate relationships—especially affecting vulnerable older adults.

Why This Matters (Trends & Market Implications)

• Growing Elder Vulnerability: With rising reports of psychological and financial elder abuse, especially in post-pandemic environments, there's a pressing need for clear legal frameworks and preventive mechanisms. 

• Legal Clarity & Enforcement: Expanding the law to cover a wider range of caretakers and family members boosts prosecution effectiveness and closes existing loopholes. 

• Market Opportunity: Mandatory reporting creates demand for safeguarding tools, training platforms, record-keeping systems, and inter-agency coordination software, fueling Ireland’s RegTech and SafeguardingTech industry growth.

Implementation Essentials

• Mandatory Reporting: Professions like healthcare, social services, financial services, and care home providers could face statutory duties to report suspected abuse—regardless of patient or familial status.

• Evidence-Based Enforcement: Legal thresholds now demand clear documentation of coercive pattern behaviour, isolating the elderly, controlling finances, or depriving autonomy, to support prosecution. 

• Centralized Safeguarding Authority: The proposed body would oversee multi-sector responses, coordinate case handling, and deploy legal tools like forced entry as a last resort in urgent abuse cases.

International Snapshot

Australia

Growing policy focus on coercive control of older adults; however, mandatory reporting remains inconsistent, particularly in community care.

United States

A patchwork of state-level mandatory reporting laws exists, alongside the federal Elder Justice Act; financial-exploitation detection is emphasized in banks and elder care services.

Canada

No specific elder-abuse offence yet, but rising attention: calls for national definitions, improved data collection, new Criminal Code offences, and stronger penalties are under consideration.

United Kingdom

Controlling and coercive behaviour criminalized (2015) under the Serious Crime Act; Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduced economic abuse as a defined offence; coordinated safeguarding policies operate across devolved nations.

Sources: Independent, The Irish Times, Wikipedia, Reddit, Canada.ca, Hull and Hull LLP, Ministère de la Justice

🚀 Connect with Global Leaders in Aging & Care Innovation!

Sourcingcares links international partners in aging care, long-term care, and health technology, fostering collaboration and driving solutions for a changing world. Our initiatives include Cares Expo Taipei, where the future of elder care takes shape!

🔗 Follow us for insights & opportunities:

📌 Facebook: sourcingcares

📌 LinkedIn: sourcingcares

📍 Explore more at Cares Expo Taipei!

Source：

Irish Independent