As people age, they become much more vulnerable to abuse. Whether the abuse is mental, physical or financial, abuse of an elderly person is both a tragic circumstance and a heinous crime. Unfortunately, elder abuse can be hard to detect until it is much too late. However, with the right planning and diligence, it is possible to protect our loved ones from abuse so that they can live their golden years safely and securely. Read on to learn the steps that you should take to prevent elder abuse, and find out how an elder abuse attorney can help if you suspect your loved one has suffered abuse.
Use a Checklist to Find the Right Care
Once your loved one has reached the point where they need some assistance, it can be hard to know exactly what they need, especially if you are considering an extended care facility. It is important to make a checklist of your loved one’s care requirements so that you can narrow down institutions and find one that is the right fit. Look for care facilities with large enough staffs so that your loved one will be closely monitored and ask if they have an independent doctor, which means there is some kind of outside accountability. Being extremely cautious in finding care helps to prevent the possibility of elder abuse and keeps your loved one secure.
Monitor Your Loved One’s Finances
Financial abuse is one of the more common forms of elder abuse. Unscrupulous caretakers and other individuals may convince your loved one to either give them money or directly access their bank accounts. To prevent this unfortunate type of elder abuse, it is important that you monitor your loved one’s finances and look for anything that is out of the ordinary. Increased spending, or spending at locations unusual to your loved one, may be an indication of elder abuse and require quick, direct action.
Pay Attention to Your Loved One’s Mental and Physical Health
Some of the most common, and terrible, forms of elder abuse can be hard to detect because the aging process masks them. As our bodies age, our physical and mental abilities naturally deteriorate, but this can also be a sign of abuse if they occur very rapidly. After your loved one enters a care facility, make sure to pay close attention to both their physical and mental health. Changes in personality, like becoming more withdrawn, as well as a loss of physical ability or mysterious bruises, can all be signs that your loved one is a victim of elder abuse and needs help.
Develop a Relationship with the Care Staff
Even if you visit your elderly relatives and loved ones as regularly as possible, it is impossible to be with them all the time. Because of this fact, it is important that you have a good relationship with the care staff wherever your loved one is staying. Developing these relationships mean there will be multiple people watching out for your loved one when you are not around, increasing their security and decreasing the likelihood of elder abuse. Having a team of people dedicated to protecting your loved one is the key to preventing elder abuse.
Get Compensation After Elder Abuse through Legal Representation
It is an unfortunate fact that even if you are constantly vigilant and take as many precautions as possible, your loved one may still become the victim of elder abuse. If you suspect this is the case, then your loved deserves justice and the type of compensation they deserve to move on with their life. Hiring an attorney from the McMahan Law Firm is the best way to fight for your loved one after a case of elder abuse. Our expert team of attorneys has the compassion and legal experience necessary to work on your loved one’s behalf to get just compensation after they have been taken advantage of. Get your loved one the justice they deserve today by contacting the McMahan Law Firm.
