Spotting Elder Abuse
More and more people are falling victim to elder abuse. Statistics show that the vast majority of abuse of seniors is by family members. Other abusers are care givers or persons a senior trusts. Probably fewer abusers are people that prey on the elderly still living at home, often alone. If you are a senior, or know someone who is elderly or a vulnerable adult, you should know how to spot abuse, how to prevent it from happening, and what to do if you suspect it has occurred.
Spotting abuse
Scams
The Minnesota Attorney General reports 56% of scam victims are persons over 50 years of age. Scammers take thousands of dollars from seniors, many of whom can ill afford the loss. Some common scams are:
- Predatory loans (they often advertise low payments, but interest rates and fees are very high);
- Prizes and lotteries (an announcement that you have won money, but you must pay money in order to receive your award);
- Home repairs (door-to-door sales of services which you have not solicited but are told by the salesperson that you must desperately need);
- Posers (people coming to the door stating they work for the city or are under a contract with a service provider to perform government-supplied services, but end up robbing the house);
- Credit card scams (either a mailed offer for a guaranteed credit card, or a request for a person's credit card number).
Financial Abuse
This is a fairly common area of elder abuse and is most often perpetrated by family members, especially those with substance abuse or dependency problems, who often use threats to gain power over the senior. However, persons holding themselves out as professional advisors also perpetrate financial abuse. Some examples of financial abuse are:
- Misuse of a power of attorney by spending the senior's assets;
- Spending funds in a joint bank account that a senior added the child's name to for emergency purposes only;
- Seminars or mailings advertising trusts and other investment vehicles urging people to sign up the same day and requiring social security numbers and birthdates;
- Coercing a senior to transfer the house by deed or to write a will in the abuser's favor, often under the guise that it will protect their assets from the state or with a promise to take care of the senior for the rest of his or her life;
- Requests for charitable donations from organizations that are "new" or can't substantiate their charitable purpose.
Signs that someone has suffered financial abuse include a change in the senior's financial situation. This may not always be visible to family and friends. They may note changes in how a senior is spending money (not enough groceries in the house, not tithing, not going out as often).
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse takes many forms, including personal injury, medication mismanagement, unwanted sexual contact, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, isolation, and neglect. It is often unreported by the senior for fear of reprisal. Abusers are frequently those people that live with the senior or people on whom the senior depends for care.
- Signs that a person has suffered some form of physical abuse include:
- Bruises, broken bones, or other manifestations of physical injury;
- Withdrawal;
- Depression;
- Strained relationships;
- Weight loss or change in eating habits;
- Other personality changes.
Self Neglect
Although not abuse at the hands of another, self-neglect is a sign that a person needs assistance and is a potential candidate for elder abuse. Signs of self-neglect include:
- Bad hygiene;
- Bad housekeeping;
- Hoarding (of things or animals);
- Disheveled appearance, dirty or torn clothing;
- Confusion or poor memory;
- Medication mismanagement.
Preventing Abuse
Being cautious and questioning of people who purport to give incredible one-time offers or who show up unsolicited is one way to avoid being a scam victim. Safeguarding credit card numbers and social security numbers helps as well. Keeping valuables in a safe and secure place in the home will deter robbers. To prevent financial abuse, having income deposited directly into a bank account will minimize opportunities for theft and reduce the amount of cash available to give someone who comes to the door with a plea for money. Make sure only one person has access to the mail to open, and open it soon after receipt. The longer one waits to investigate something suspicious, the harder it will be to determine if there is financial abuse. Study the statements from financial institutions as they come in and look for unauthorized spending. Schedule regular medical checkups and don't miss appointments. A doctor is trained to look for signs of physical and mental abuse. Attend support groups, social activities, and engagements with friends and family. The more people interested in a senior's welfare, the greater the chances are that signs of abuse will be noticed. If you have a friend or family member that you haven't seen or heard from in a while, call them and set a date to get together.
Reporting abuse
If you suspect a scam, contact the local law enforcement agency or the state attorney general. To report suspected financial and physical abuse, or to report self-neglect of an individual, the State of Minnesota has what is referred to as "The Common Entry Point". Each county has a telephone number to call which leads directly to a social worker experienced in elder abuse. The numbers can be found on the web at http://www.mnaging.org/advisor/cepd.htm
After a report, a crisis response team will screen the senior, and if necessary, connect him or her with appropriate services or report the situation to law enforcement. If the victim is a vulnerable adult, there are criminal penalties for the abusers. A vulnerable adult is defined under Minnesota law as one who resides in a facility or receives home care services, or who is impaired to the extent that the individual can't provide for his or her own care without assistance. If the victim is not a vulnerable adult, consult with an attorney. There may be civil remedies available to recoup the senior's losses. The attorney may also recommend ways to legally protect a senior from further victimization.
Con artists and abusers can be people you least expect. Seniors are targeted because their families don't live close, they have an ever-shrinking social group, and were raised to trust people. Keep your eyes open for signs that you or someone you know is becoming a victim.
The information contained in this article is not intended to be legal advice or to create a contract between the reader and the author. The reader is encouraged to seek appropriate legal counsel and not to rely on the information contained herein.