As a Personal Injury Law Firm, we believe it is important to keep people educated about news in our industry that might affect them. And while most people don’t think about elder abuse until it hits close to home, the issue is one that is getting more-and-more common in our country.
We collected a few articles that will shed light on this growing issue.
A family member as the abuser
In Oregon, a woman was given the responsibility over the finances of her aunt who was in a nursing home. Instead of doing right by her aunt, the woman made home improvements and purchased a luxury sports car. The subsequent investigation was made difficult because of the death of the elderly woman.
Elderly abuse in a technology driven world
In today’s social media world it is not uncommon for people to post pictures of themselves with friends or family members. But recent findings by ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism website, has found that nursing home workers are possibly breaking the law. The website claims to have found 35 instances since 2012 have uploaded photos or videos of patients to various social media channels.
Preventing elderly abuse is not a quick fix
Most people recognize abuse of elders to be both physical and emotional. However, more-and-more cases involving sexual and financial abuse are being reported. So what can you do to make sure your elderly loved ones are taken care of? The answers vary based on the type of abuse, but there are signs you should be aware of.
If you believe that a loved one is being abused in one form or another, it’s important to take immediate action. Don’t assume things will get better. In a recent study by the National Center on Elder Abuse, it was found that upwards of 10% of elders were neglected or abused.
