Elder Abuse

Handling elder abuse is one of the true specialties of the Hayes Firm.We have extensive contacts with elder abuse attorneys around the world and have personally dealt with a wide variety of these cases.

Elder abuse can be categorized into a few different main types:

• Financial Abuse or Negligence
• Emotional Manipulation or Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Medical Incompetence

Each of these categories or more common and serious than you might think. Here is a bit of information on each. Decide if you or a loved one is suffering from abuse and find out below what you can do about it.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is a diverse genre of mistreatment that encompasses the illegal embezzlement, theft, or misappropriation of funds or possessions of an elderly individual.

Often older folks have a difficult time managing their resources, and so depend on others to help them. It is at this time that unscrupulous individuals make attempts at taking property, land, goods, and money through acts of deception, intimidation, etc.

Financial abuse can be done by health caretakers, scammers, 'sweetheart' relationships, or even family members and loved ones.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse works in nuance and it is the duty of the family to pay close attention to changes in their loved ones. It also helps to be properly educated regarding what kinds of emotional abuse can happen and what the symptoms can be. Finally, it's critical that the family know when and how to pursue legal recourse should they think it necessary.

Types of Emotional Abuse:

It's tough to understand emotional abuse without giving some categories and descriptions. The following are not prescriptive or all inclusive, but mainly to help you in identifying potential problems.

• Verbal Harassment. This constitutes a stream of insults, put downs, and slights. The patient is made to feel like a lesser person and can be made hyper-aware of their age and illnesses.
• Threat of Punishment. Sometimes physical abuse is never reported because it is never needed. The nurse or practitioner could simply threaten, yell, and scare the patient into compliance.
• Humiliation. Humiliation comes in many varieties, both public and private.
• Deprivation. Deprivation blurs the line between physical and emotional abuse. Much less physically obvious, deprivation can be  withholding of medication, food, water, or even attention.
• Abandonment. Successful living in a retirement home is more than just satisfying base needs. Mature adults require interaction and a feeling of fulfillment. Abandonment is an utter lack for these concerns.
• Intimidation. Much like verbal harassment, intimidation is the use of coercion and threats to gain compliance.

Physical Abuse

Sometimes we have to put our faith in others. In a nursing home environment, we take a big leap of faith that nurses and practitioners have the best interest of our loved ones in mind. Many times that's exactly what happens - conscientious care and attentiveness. But too often there are reports of physical abuse against the elderly. It's our job to pay attention to the signs and know our legal rights in this situation.

Physical abuse can include a wide variety of sratches, bruises, and even broken bones. Physical abuse can also entail unneccessary restraints and negligence for providing food, water, medication, etc.

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