Local seniors have welcomed changes to NSW law which could see those who neglect elderly people in their care jailed for up to five years.

The changes involve modernising a section of the Crimes Act to bring the law up-to-date with social changes, including an ageing population.

They will protect older people dependent on carers, parents cared for by their children and people who are dependent on their de facto partner by making it an offence to fail to provide properly for them.

Orange resident Jenny Sams said it was not unheard of for older people to experience abuse and said she was pleased the government was responding.

“I think it is a problem,” she said. “People can be neglected.

“I used to work in the aged care industry and some people who come in are neglected. I also think we don’t know our neighbours these days so it can be hard to look out for people.”

Tricia Dolstra said there was an underlying lack of respect in the way Australians treated their elderly relatives.

“The amount of people who are dumped in nursing homes and never get a visitor - it’s awful,” she said. “It’s about time we took a leaf out of other cultures’ books.”

The changes to the law have been welcomed by the NSW Council on the Ageing.

Ron Savage, who co-ordinates a Broadband For Seniors program in Orange, said volunteer tutors had recently been asked to submit to police background checks in order to protect their students.

Mr Savage said it was important to protect people who may be vulnerable.

“Anyone dealing with the elderly will have to have a police check,” he said. “With kids you’re probably worried about sexual abuse, but I think with the elderly it’s more about financial exploitation.”

The changes to the Crimes Act will also replace a reference to “insane persons” with a more modern description of a person with a mental illness.