Cleveland Elder Abuse Lawyer

Unfortunately, thousands of older adults are abused, neglected, and exploited each year. As people age, they become more frail and vulnerable and depend on caregivers or family members to help meet their basic needs. The statistics are shocking – most victims of elder abuse have been taken advantage of by a close friend, family member, nursing home staff member, or other trusted figure.

Elder abuse is an emotional situation that refers to intentional acts of negligence, harm, or risk of harm inflicted upon a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, family member, or another person. If your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse in Ohio, they are protected by federal and state legislature.

In 2010, the federal government enacted the Elder Justice Act (EJA), which authorizes federal funds to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The EJA:

• Establishes an Elder Justice Coordinating Counsel and an Advisory Board in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• Sanctions grants to improve Adult Protective Services, Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs, and state survey agencies for Medicare and Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities.
• Authorizes grant money for forensic centers to develop expertise on elder abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
• Enhances nursing home staffing, data exchange in facilities, and mandatory reporting of crimes against seniors in federally-funded facilities.
• Assists researchers and authorizes a study on a national nurse aide registry.

While federal and state protections are in place to provide justice and minimize future instances of mistreatment, elder abuse still occurs. Whether your loved one lives at home, in a retirement facility, or a nursing home, they may get taken advantage of.

If you have a strong suspicion that your loved one is enduring elder abuse, look for the following warning signs:

• Unusual depression, unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, or a sudden change in alertness
• Bruises, broken bones, pressure marks, abrasions, or burns
• Bruises or pressure marks around the genital area
• Sudden changes in financial standing
• Poor hygiene, unusual weight loss, bedsores, or unattended health and medical needs
• Nursing home staff, retirement facility workers, or relatives belittling, threatening, or controlling your loved one
• Frequent emotional arguments or tense relationships between your elderly loved one and their caregiver
• Suicidal ideation

The long-term effects of elder abuse are devastating for the victim. Abuse and neglect can harm physical and psychological health, dismantle families, cause devastating financial loss, and even lead to early death. Report any suspicions of elder abuse right away.

If you suspect your loved one is enduring elder abuse, we encourage you to contact The Henry Law Firm as soon as possible. You can provide proof of abuse in many forms, from facility security tapes and voicemails to physical injuries and any other details. Our experienced elder abuse attorney will take on your case with empathy and urgency.

Elder abuse is a general term used to describe the mistreatment of the elderly. Elder abuse draws many parallels to other kinds of abuse. Seniors can become a victim of any type of elder abuse, including:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Financial
• Sexual
• Neglect
• Abandonment

Physical abuse occurs when someone intentionally causes bodily harm to another person. This form of abuse often causes significant injuries that require recovery or can even contribute to early death. Since elderly people have weaker bones, a single occurrence of physical abuse in a nursing home or elsewhere can cause devastating issues.

Physical elder abuse may include:

• Hitting
• Kicking
• Punching
• Pushing or shoving
• Bruising
• Burning
• Scratching

Emotional abuse is also referred to as psychological abuse. Emotional abuse occurs when someone inflicts mental pain, anguish, or distress on an older person through verbal or nonverbal acts. Making threats, intimidations, or humiliating an elder is considered to be emotional abuse.

Emotional abuse is one of the more common forms of elder abuse. Whereas physical abuse often renders tangible bodily evidence, emotional abuse can be harder to notice and prove. It is vital to watch for changes in your loved one’s health and mood, as drastic or negative changes could indicate emotional harm.

Examples of emotional abuse include:

• Nursing home staff or other caregivers repeatedly yelling at the elder
• Consistently ignoring the older adult
• Making threats
• Preventing an elder from seeing friends or relatives
• Blaming the elder for an issue they didn’t cause
• Belittling and bullying

Elder financial abuse is prevalent and hard to spot. Often, financial abuse can carry on unnoticed for years, causing substantial financial consequences. Financial abuse frequently victimizes elderly people with dementia. Financial harm is usually carried out by a person who an elderly person thought was trustworthy, such as a friend, relative, or nursing home caregiver.

While close relations most frequently perpetuate elder financial abuse, seniors can also be taken advantage of by strangers. Many phone and email scams exist to con elders out of money.

Financial abuse can include:

• Stealing an elder’s money or valuables
• Using an elder’s credit cards
• Taking control of an elder’s power of attorney
• Forging checks
• Taking retirement, Social Security, or Medicaid benefits
• Changing names on financial accounts without permission

Sexual elder abuse is defined as forcing an older adult to watch or take part in sexual acts. Even though sexual elder abuse is the least reported form of abuse, it still occurs each year. Instances of sexual abuse can include:

• Non-consensual touching
• Masturbating in front of an older person
• Making unwanted verbal sexual advances
• Forcing sexual activity with an elder who is unable to consent due to dementia or other factors

When a caregiver does not respond to an elder’s physical, emotional, or social needs, it is classified as neglect. Neglect is a common form of elder abuse, but it can be difficult to prove. A staggering number of nursing home employees have participated in elder neglect, which ultimately causes serious consequences. Neglect can occur in a variety of scenarios, including:

• A caretaker fails to attend to medical concerns
• An elder is not provided with enough food or water
• Staff members fail to help an elder with personal hygiene, including dental care, bathing, and laundry
• Leaving an elder alone or forcing isolation

Abandonment is classified as a form of elder neglect. This neglectful circumstance occurs when the person responsible for an older adult’s care deserts them in a public place, hospital, or nursing home. The caregiver completely abandons the elder with no help or resources. Vulnerable aging adults often need help with day-to-day activities, so they are put in a terrifying position if they are abandoned.