Relatives Visiting Elderly Family Members During the Holidays Can Help Prevent Elder Abuse and Neglect

Most people spend their holiday season with family, traveling from every corner of the US to gather, open presents, and share a meal. When visiting family this season, it is a great time to watch out for signs of elder abuse or neglect in aging relatives.

The most obvious indications of potential elder abuse are physical – bruises, weight loss, changes in body odor, and unexplained sores or rashes are all signs that your loved one is potentially being physically abused or neglected. If your aging loved one lives alone with no assistance, it could be time to consider getting extra help. However, when an assigned care giver or long-term care facility is involved, this can be especially serious.

Other signs of potential elder abuse or neglect involve changes in behavior. Confusion, unwillingness to make eye contact, or shrinking away from physical touch can all be signs of elder abuse.

“If their physical appearance has changed in any way, if they’ve lost a lot of weight, seem somewhat more confused or something suddenly has changed in their financial circumstances, those types of things are red flags,” says Donna Dougherty, attorney in charge of JASA’s legal services for the elderly. JASA, an acronym for Jewish Association Serving the Aging, is a Manhattan-based, not-for-profit organization that provides social services, legal advice and nutrition services for seniors in the metropolitan area.

The elderly relative might also be the victim of financial abuse – they might be unable to pay for food or necessary items, or they could be missing valuables.

Seniors living alone at home might be vulnerable to falls on icy steps, or hurting themselves with household items. Many concerned family members might notice these potential problems on a holiday visit and choose to hire a caregiver to give assistance to their elderly relative. When this type of trust is broken by elder abuse, the consequences can be devastating. It is important to not only watch out for signs of elder abuse when visiting for the holidays, but to keep in touch with elderly family members and make sure that their needs are being taken care of. If they raise concerns, or their demeanor changes, it could be the first sign of elder abuse.

3 Actions to Take Against Nursing Home Elder Abuse

There are many ways in which nursing homes can be held responsible for injuring others as a result of their negligence, abuse, exploitation, false imprisonment, or violations of criminal statutes, as well as violations of regulations pertaining to their licensing, maintenance, and general operation.

An act of abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older person might give rise to one or all of the following types of proceedings:

1.     an investigation and finding by an adult protective services agency or the regulatory agency for nursing homes (in South Carolina it is the Department of Environmental Control);

2.     a civil cause of action for damages; and/or

3.     a criminal prosecution.

These three types of proceedings have different objectives: the objective of a protective services investigation is to provide immediate help and relief to the victim and prevent further harm; the civil action is to seek compensation for damages; and the criminal prosecution is when the state seeks to punish the harmful conduct

The nursing home abuse lawyers at the Strom Law Firm can evaluate your situation at no charge. During a no-fee case evaluation, we’ll explain which of the above proceedings you can pursue and why.

The Strom Law Firm Defends Victims of Elder Abuse

If your loved one has faced elder abuse, whether from a caregiver or at a nursing home, you do not have to suffer in silence. Contact the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation. We are here to help. 803.252.4800.