Each year, hundreds of thousands of elderly individuals are abused, neglected, or exploited. In general, elder abuse may refer to any intentional negligent act by a caregiver or any other person which causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable elder adult.
Has your elderly loved one become the victim of elder abuse?
The elder abuse lawyers at Sparacino Law have been defending the rights of elder abuse victims and their families for over 30 years.
You can rest assured that our knowledgeable attorneys will work quickly to obtain the justice your elderly loved one deserves.
Victims of elder abuse are often frail and infirm, and therefore require assistance from others to complete their day-to-day tasks. Because these elderly persons heavily depend on others, they are at risk for being abused by someone whom they’ve entrusted to provide them care.
Abusers of elder adults can be women or men, and they may be family members, friends, or hired caregivers. Elderly individuals may be abused while in a nursing home, or they may be abused while still residing in their own home.
What Is Considered Elder Abuse?
An elderly lady hiding abuse of an elder may include:
- Physical Abuse—inflicting physical pain or injury to an elderly person such as slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical force or sedative medications.
- Sexual Abuse—non-consensual sexual conduct of any kind.
- Neglect/Abandonment—the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection to a vulnerable elder.
- Exploitation—illegally taking, misusing, or concealing the elder’s money or property for personal gain.
- Emotional Abuse—inflicting mental anguish or distress on an elderly person through verbal or nonverbal acts such as humiliation, intimidation, or threatening.
What Are The Warning Signs Of Elder Abuse?
While one sign does not necessarily indicate a problem, two or more signs could indicate abuse of your elderly loved one. Warning signs of elder abuse may include:
- The physical manifestation of bruises, abrasions, burns, or broken bones that cannot be readily attributed to an accident.
- Sudden withdrawal from normal activities, or unusual depression.
- Bites, bruises, or marks around the breasts or genital area, which may be indicative of sexual abuse.
- Financial instability that is sudden or unexpected. This may be the result of exploitation.
- Bedsores, lack of proper medication dispersal, poor hygiene or unusual weight loss, which may indicate neglect or abandonment.
- Frequent arguments between the elderly person and the caregiver, or uses of power and control over the elderly individual by the caregiver, are also possible indicators of elder abuse.