Elder Abuse: Physical and Emotional

Recognize the telltale signs

Caregiver stress may indeed be real, but this does not negate the criminal nature of the offense. After all, society would not tolerate similar actions against children or pets. The victim’s rights and care should be paramount, not the caregiver’s. Read More >>

Elder Abuse: Financial Exploitation

Watch for telltale signs

Financial exploitation is the second most common form of elder abuse. Exploitation is theft, pure and simple. Theft by strangers includes lottery scams, telemarketing and sweepstakes fraud, identity theft, and other con games. But theft by those who aren’t strangers is more subtle, hidden, and insidious. Read More >>

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. Read More >>

Elder Abuse: An Overview

First, what is it?

Last year, I was privileged to attend a training course on elder abuse with some of Colorado Springs’ finest. Under a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, 50 or so police officers, detectives, and I spent two days of intense immersion into the social crisis of elder abuse. The statistics were grim; the videos horrific. We left with an increased awareness and recognition of the tactics that abusers use to victimize those over 60 years of age. My next several blogs will convey some of what I learned. Read More >>