The Wise and the Wary
Who can you trust? Deb hears this question over and over again in her professional practice as an elder law attorney and a fee-only, holistic financial planner. Let Deb teach you how to protect yourself and your assets from those who might not have your best interests at heart. [Editor's note: Deb no longer contributes to Silver Planet, but we have made her archived blog entries available as a service to our readers.]
Elder Abuse: Neglect
Help is just a phone call away
The most common form of elder abuse is neglect. Your state’s criminal statutes likely prohibit a pattern of conduct that deprives someone of some necessity for physical or mental health. We all need food, water, shelter, appropriate heating or cooling, and medical services to maintain health. Caregivers who consistently fail to deliver these things are abusers.
Telltale signs of neglect
- Dehydration or malnourishment
- Burns, fractures, welts, bedsores, or other wounds
- Hypothermia or hyperthermia
- Inadequate clothing
- Absence of needed eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, or prosthesis
- Excessive odor or lack of hygiene
- Lack of necessary medication
- Excessive drugging
- Severe depression, anxiety, or fearfulness
Sometimes abusers will try to justify their actions, pleading that they are doing the best they can under the circumstances. That may very well be, but this ploy for sympathy or understanding will not be a defense against a charge of neglect or reckless endangerment. A caregiver who needs help is obliged to get help or else surrender the caregiving role.
If you suspect that someone you know is a victim of neglect, call the police or Adult Protective Services. Immediate help is just a phone call away.
By Deborah Hoskins, JD, CFP
The Wise and the Wary Blog
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