Elderly Abuse And What You Can Do About It

One of the most shocking cases that a Los Angeles attorney has to deal with is a case of elderly abuse. It is sadly on the increase in the US and doesn't look as if it is something that is going to abate. According to the national institute of justice, the US census bureau predicts that by 2025, there will be around 62 million Americans over the age of 65 and around 7.4 million will be over the age of 85. The bottom line is that people are living longer.

Being elderly and wanting to remain independent can prove particularly challenging. It may be the situation that they can no longer live independently, but at the same time, don't feel that they are ready to be placed in residential care facilities. In many instances spouses, children and other relatives volunteer to take care of the elder and in most cases, this can be an enriching and satisfying experience. However, both the demands of the act of care giving and the increasing demands of the elder can sometimes lead to challenging situations in which abuse can occur.

An elderly abuse lawyer explains that for every one case that is reported, around twelve are not. A good reason for this may be because the person doing the abusing is another family member. It may be a sibling, or a son or daughter, and they feel ashamed that their family are behaving in this manner. The elder themselves may not want to report the incident because they may feel that they can't for fear of retaliation. That said, there is a far greater need for suspected abuse to be reported. If you are a family member and you don't feel comfortable, then speak to a close friend about the situation and get them to contact an elderly abuse attorney.

How does elderly abuse happen?

In general, elderly abuse isn't intentional and although this in no way excuses the act, it is in some way sadly understandable. In the majority of cases the caregiver hasn't been professionally trained and may be trying to hold down a job as well as looking after the rest of the household. This can lead to extreme stress as well as physical and mental health problems. Inevitably this builds up and ultimately leads to carers lashing out at elders within their care.

Professional caregivers can also be exposed to stress levels that lead to elderly abuse or nursing home neglect. These can be in the form of a lack of training, having to take on too much work and working in poor conditions. Elderly abuse doesn't have to be solely physical or sexual, instead it can also be through one or other means

Types of elderly abuse?

Emotional abuse - Name calling, belittling, controlling behavior, yelling and swearing

Neglect - Isolation, ignoring the calls of the elder, unsafe or insufficient living conditions, untreated physical conditions such as bed sores.

Financial control - Withdrawing the elders money without authorization, forging checks, forcing changes of will or power of attorney, stealing items from the elder.

Healthcare abuse - Evidence of over or under medicating, collecting the medication but not administering it to the elder, charging duplicate bills for the same medication.

So what should you do if you suspect elderly abuse?

The very first thing that you need to do is to contact the Adult Protective Services (APS). They should always be the first to respond to calls of this nature. Upon receiving the call they will remove the elder from the situation and either take them to a hospital if they need treatment, or place them in a safe environment, sometimes another relative, sometimes a care home. Once the elder has been removed and is safe, then you should call a skilled elderly abuse lawyer. In California there are a number of experienced Los Angeles County lawyers who are well versed in dealing with such claims.

Elderly abuse isn't going to go away and it isn't something that can be simply brushed under the carpet. Instead with the help of the APS and an experienced team of Los Angeles injury attorneys, then instances of abuse can be reduced.