Elder Abuse Attorneys

No one wants to think that their loved one could ever be abused by a facilitator but the truth is it does happen far too often. A type of senior abuse that may be experienced is not limited to physical aspects. There are also emotional, sexual, or financial experiences of abuse amongst our aged. What is purely devastating when these issues arise is that in most cases family, guardian, or the resident are financing the service of care and safety with the facility. Quite often the abuse goes unnoticed. For this reason people are taking initiative to provide some clues significant to particular elder abuse.

In the case of physical abuse or neglect evidence may be represented in the form of sores or rashes which are often noticed; frequent smells of feces or urine either on the patient, bedding or in the room; the individual appears to be malnourished or dehydrated; he or she often appears to be ungroomed and poorly dressed; or the facility appears to be unhealthy or safe for the person to be living in. Finally, frequent bruises and wounds are extreme indicators and should be reported immediately.

Sexual abuse isn’t as easily determined. However, consistent flirtatious behavior and unusual closeness and affection by a particular employee may be an indicator. Emotional abuse is also a little more difficult to determine especially since many people tend to fluctuate in emotional balance as they age. Frequent outbursts of anger, severe depression, withdrawal from reality, extreme fear, or complete isolation is likely reflecting that there is something wrong and should be taken seriously.

Another way that facilitators take advantage of seniors is by financial exploitation. The resident should have some awareness of their financial affairs; if they don’t it could indicate that some advantage has been taken over them. If the residents rent is continual overdue or bills go unpaid it’s likely his/her money is being misused. If signatures on checks are different than that of your loved one that’s an obvious sign that there is abuse. Check with your loved one to make sure that he/she is well aware of all checks and transactions.

If you have serious concerns that abuse is evident it’s important to hire an attorney. Make sure the attorney is familiar with all of the state and federal elder care and abuse laws. Interview the attorney and get a feel for how knowledgeable he or she is in the field. Look for certification on the wall and be inclined to ask how many years he or she has practiced this particular type of law. You may also ask for references or any other available resources which are indicative to the person’s level of experience. Finally, get an idea of what fees are going to be incurred should you choose to hire him or her to represent yourself or your loved one. Make sure the needs of your loved one are the primary concern with the attorney and that the financial reward is only secondary to his or her interests. Your loved one will be appreciative that you looked after his/her needs.