Feature of developed societies?

Such elderly abuse in Asia appears to be more keenly felt in developed societies such as Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.“Before, people were more traditional and there was more respect for elderly people. Now, they are less tightly-knit, people no longer observe traditions as strongly and there is less respect for the elderly,” Foo said.“There is now more psychological and financial abuse due to a loss of traditional culture.” UGG Argyle Knit Boots David Dai of the Hong Kong Alzheimer’s Disease Association said: “In richer societies, there is an increasing trend of disputes. There are plenty of people with assets who die intestate. Because there is no one to execute their will, they (family members) take it to guardianship.”“In developing countries… they are more traditional and united and they look after their old. There are less medical interventions to keep people alive and they are less litigious.”In Singapore, growing disputes and fraud involving assets of elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease became serious enough for Parliament to enact a “Mental Capacity Act” in 2008, much like the one Britain created in 2005.“The Act created a new instrument called ‘lasting power of attorney’ allowing people to appoint a deputy while they are still of sound mind” said Patrick Tan, a practising lawyer in Singapore at the forefront of a campaign to raise awareness of legal protection for the elderly.“If one becomes mentally incapacitated, the appointed deputy can step forward and manage affairs without spending extra money and going to court,” he told Reuters.Nearly every day, small teams of lawyers in Singapore give free advice at a few grassroots centres, educating people on the need to nominate a “deputy” to safeguard their assets. Deputies make decisions covering the older person’s welfare and assets, pre-empting any attempts by other people to exploit the person’s deteriorating mental faculties.In Australia, people are advised upon entering an aged care home to make wills, “end of life wishes” and name a power-of-attorney to manage their assets when they become mentally incapacitated.“End of life wishes” is an instruction on whether to resuscitate a person after a cardiac or respiratory arrest.