You may think that elder abuse only happens to people who are living in substandard nursing homes and are too senile to know the difference. You might assume that most abusers of the elderly are strangers, not family. Actually, those are two of the common myths about elder abuse.
In fact, most abused seniors suffer their harm at the hands of people close to them, such as relatives, caregivers, and other trusted people. Most of the abuse happens in the home,
Q: How do you prove a financial elder abuse case?
For the past 30 years, senior citizens have been flocking to California in record numbers. Unfortunately, California elder abuse attorneys have reason to be concerned for the safety of this fastest-growing segment of the population.
While the elderly may be victims of physical and/or emotional abuse at the hands of strangers, caretakers, friends or family, the statistics on financial elder abuse are also concerning.
Consider these alarming figures from the National Council on Aging and other studies:
- 5 million elders suffer from some form of abuse
- 1 in 10 people over age 60 are abused
- only 1 of every 14 cases of abuse is reported
- the victim’s family member is the abuser in 60% of cases.
Q: Do injuries or deaths from malnutrition or dehydration in a nursing home constitute negligence and elder neglect?
Sadly, nursing home neglect in California is a big problem –especially in homes run by individuals or companies that put profits over the welfare of its residents. Insufficient or poorly-trained staff can be a recipe for disaster.
The Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act of California defines elder neglect as “the negligent failure of any individual having care or custody of an elder or dependent adult to provide a standard of care that a reasonable person would provide under the same circumstances.”
Receiving compassionate and quality care is important to people as they grow older. Many turn to nursing homes as a way to receive quality care, but the standards of nursing homes can vary widely.
California has approximately 110,000 people living in around 1,300 licensed nursing homes, according to the California Department of Justice. California is also projected to have one of the largest growth rates in the elderly population by 2025.
However, authorities reported in 2009 that 13% of all complaints reported to the California Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman were relating to the elder abuse or neglect.
What is being done to fight the abuse of elders
Elder abuse in all its forms, whether physical, emotional or financial is a heinous crime and a growing problem not only in California, but across the Nation. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the federal government is cracking down on what has been called the crime of the 21st Century. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it will launch a program designed to combat the abuse of elderly patients in nursing homes.
Nursing Home Abuse at a Glance
Elderly patients are abused in nursing facilities in a variety of ways,
Can I sue an assisted living or nursing facility for elder abuse in California?
After living a full and active life, many people look forward to retirement and embrace the idea of a slower, relaxed life. The work years are past, the kids are grown, and it’s time to focus on your own needs–maybe travel or just enjoy the grandchildren.
But for many, the aging process itself presents challenges that impact the ability to live independently. Physical, emotional or mental impairments may require a move to an assisted living or nursing facility.
