Elder abuse has become deplorably common across the United States. Unfortunately, only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse get reported, according to the National Council on Aging.
The scope of the problem is vast: Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse. If you or a loved one was mistreated by a caregiver or nursing home staff member, contact Morris Bart & Associates, LLC.
A Montgomery injury lawyer will evaluate your case, gather evidence and help you pursue justice and compensation. There’s no excuse for elder abuse, and our legal team will help you hold the liable parties accountable. Call 800-537-8185 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Read on to learn about four risk factors of elder abuse:
Elder Person Lives in Isolation
As previously mentioned, most cases of elder abuse are never reported to the authorities. This is more likely to happen when senior citizens live in isolation. For example, a nursing home resident who does not have family or a support network nearby might not have an opportunity to report the mistreatment. Sometimes nursing home residents are afraid to take action.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185
Elder Person Lives in a Dependent or Shared Living Arrangement
Most cases of elder abuse – almost 90 percent – are perpetrated by family members who don’t have the time, training or patience to provide reliable care. If a senior citizen depends on his or her spouse, children or grandchildren for care, then he or she is at risk of being neglected, abused or financially exploited. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to exploitation if they have live-in caregivers who depend on them for financial support.
Caregiver Abuses Drugs or Alcohol
Caregivers who abuse drugs or alcohol are often the perpetrators of elder abuse and neglect. Seniors are at a higher risk of abuse if their caregivers have a stressful work or home environment.
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Cognitive Decline
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, seniors who have dementia, Alzheimer’s or another form of cognitive impairment are at a higher risk of suffering abuse and neglect. These victims often do not know they are being abused, or they are unable to report the mistreatment.
Elder abuse has far-reaching consequences. If your loved one is in a nursing home, you should be concerned if you notice:
- Bedsores;
- Poor hygiene;
- Unexplained financial transfers to a caregiver’s account;
- Unexpected changes to the resident’s will;
- The caregiver will not let you visit the resident unsupervised;
- Unexplained bruises or cuts; or
- Signs of physical restraint on the wrists or ankles.
If you or a loved one was the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, contact Morris Bart & Associates, LLC. A personal-injury attorney in Montgomery will help you recover the maximum compensation from the at-fault staff member or facility. Call 800-537-8185 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
