“Elderly” by Kevin Dooley is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Elder abuse comes in many forms. The good folks at the American Psychological Association have created a handy list of the seven forms elder abuse can take, which serves as a great jumping off point for learning more about each of them. I’ve built a quick acronym to help you remember them and there’s a link to learn more at the bottom of the post. Here’s the list, re-ordered to fit the acronym:
- Sexual abuse. Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person.
- Emotional abuse. Infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or non-verbal acts.
- Abandonment. Desertion of an elderly person by an individual who has physical custody of the elder or by a person who has assumed responsibility for providing care to the elder.
- Neglect. Refusal, or failure, to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elderly person.
- Self-neglect. Behaviors of an elderly person that threaten the elder’s health or safety.
- Financial/material exploitation. Illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets.
- Physical abuse. Use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment.
Remember, if you see something, say something. Help our elders live the lives they deserve. Don’t underestimate the power you have to change someone’s life for the better by simply doing the right thing when you see someone who needs help. This is an incredibly important issue, one that I see too often in my practice, and one that can be protected against through proper planning.
That’s why at Jeffrey P. Reisner, Esq, we focus on getting to know our clients, their living situations, and those who will be helping them execute their planning as they enter the next stages of their lives. To learn more about what we do and how we do it, call us at (315) 422-6666. Remember, we keep you in control of your life, so you can leave your legacy, and have the peace of mind essential to allowing you to live your life to the fullest. We hope to see you soon!
Meanwhile, remember, if you see someone suffering from SEAN’S FP. Do a good deed and help them out, chances are good that they’ve helped A LOT of people in their time on this earth, and they could use some good will in return. For the full text of the article from the American Psychological Association click the link below.
https://www.apa.org/pi/prevent-violence/resources/elder-abuse.aspx
