Elder Abuse Law

We would all like to assume that if someone takes on the role of caregiver, it’s because they want to fulfill that role. Unfortunately, though, the very same people who we expect to provide care and support all too often take advantage of those in vulnerable situations. Elder abuse serves as a prime example.

In instances of elder abuse, the persons or facilities responsible for caregiving of a senior, instead, abuse that senior. Elder abuse cases are particularly heartbreaking because the senior-caregiver relationship should be one built on trust. The older adult should be able to rely on their caregiver(s) to see to their needs and improve their quality of life. Instead, the trust they give is returned with negligence — or worse.

Types of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse falls into multiple categories. The most common kinds of elder abuse include:

• Physical abuse is bodily harm as a result of intentional physical force. This can involve hitting, pushing, shoving, or anything else that causes pain. It can also include more insidious types of physical abuse like the use of certain drugs or physical restraints without the elder’s consent. Sexual abuse falls until this umbrella, too. Sexual abuse includes any unwanted physical contact and sexual harassment.
• Emotional abuse is treatment that causes psychological suffering or distress for the senior. This can include verbal abuse, like making statements intended to humiliate the elder or make them afraid. Emotional abuse can also include behavior meant to isolate the senior or control them. Our team at Masry Law Firm knows that not all abuse is physical. We have extensive experience making a case for psychological harm in the absence of physical abuse.
• Neglect, an all-too-common form of elder abuse, occurs when the caregiver doesn’t fulfill their obligation to provide the senior with what they need or abandons them. This can mean intentional deprivation of necessities, but it can also happen because the caregiver is unintentionally paying insufficient attention to the elder’s needs. The results of neglect include a shortage of food, safe environments, proper medication, and more.
• Abuse for financial gain, a type of elder abuse that benefits the caregiver, encompasses a variety of situations. Examples include charging for health care but failing to provide it, misusing the senior’s personal funds, and scamming the elder out of money.

We would all like to assume that if someone takes on the role of caregiver, it’s because they want to fulfill that role. Unfortunately, though, the very same people who we expect to provide care and support all too often take advantage of those in vulnerable situations. Elder abuse serves as a prime example.

In instances of elder abuse, the persons or facilities responsible for caregiving of a senior, instead, abuse that senior. Elder abuse cases are particularly heartbreaking because the senior-caregiver relationship should be one built on trust. The older adult should be able to rely on their caregiver(s) to see to their needs and improve their quality of life. Instead, the trust they give is returned with negligence — or worse.

Types of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse falls into multiple categories. The most common kinds of elder abuse include:

• Physical abuse is bodily harm as a result of intentional physical force. This can involve hitting, pushing, shoving, or anything else that causes pain. It can also include more insidious types of physical abuse like the use of certain drugs or physical restraints without the elder’s consent. Sexual abuse falls until this umbrella, too. Sexual abuse includes any unwanted physical contact and sexual harassment.
• Emotional abuse is treatment that causes psychological suffering or distress for the senior. This can include verbal abuse, like making statements intended to humiliate the elder or make them afraid. Emotional abuse can also include behavior meant to isolate the senior or control them. Our team at Masry Law Firm knows that not all abuse is physical. We have extensive experience making a case for psychological harm in the absence of physical abuse.
• Neglect, an all-too-common form of elder abuse, occurs when the caregiver doesn’t fulfill their obligation to provide the senior with what they need or abandons them. This can mean intentional deprivation of necessities, but it can also happen because the caregiver is unintentionally paying insufficient attention to the elder’s needs. The results of neglect include a shortage of food, safe environments, proper medication, and more.
• Abuse for financial gain, a type of elder abuse that benefits the caregiver, encompasses a variety of situations. Examples include charging for health care but failing to provide it, misusing the senior’s personal funds, and scamming the elder out of money.