People still refer to the time after one retires as the ‘golden years.’ The post-retirement years of life are often referred to as ‘golden’ since retirees have fewer responsibilities as their children are grown, and they are unemployed. Put another their way, an elder’s time and money are theirs to do as they please. However, for many older adults, these years are not quite so carefree. Often older adults suffer from impairments that can make these years trying, difficult, or even downright abusive. If you have a loved one in their golden years, you may be concerned that he or she could become a victim of abuse. Although no one can tell for sure, there are risk factors associated with elder abuse. The risk factors generally fall into one of three major categories:
Individual – These are risk factors based upon the individual. Two of the biggest risk factors in this category are poor physical and mental health. Elders that suffer from mental health conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s are at a much greater risk of abuse. Likewise, elders that abuse alcohol or other drugs also have a higher risk level. Other individual risk factors include having a low income or having valuable assets.
Relationship – The elder’s relationships with other individuals, including family members and caregivers, can also play a role. Elders who live with their caregivers are at higher risk. The relationship between the elder and caregiver is critical. If an elder has a shaky history with a child or spouse, these situations can worsen if one of these individuals needs to provide care or assistance to the elder.
Community – The community the elder and caregiver live in also plays a role. An elder that is isolated away from loved ones is at risk of abuse from a caregiver or a family member since there is no one around to take notice. Also, caregivers who do not have a support network of their own may suffer burn out and take their frustrations out on the elder.
While these are a few of the known risk factors, it is important to remember that elder abuse is complicated. Here are two examples of how risk factors cannot always be avoided. If an elder lives with a caregiver or others, she is at a higher risk for sexual abuse. However, if she lives alone, she is at a higher risk of financial exploitation. Likewise, having wealth could cause a caregiver to steal or financially abuse the elder. But, if an elder is dependent on the caregiver for financial support, if abuse occurs, the elder may feel trapped. The bottom line is that elder abuse is more common than most people think and can happen to anyone. Experts estimate that approximately 1 in every 10 Americans over age 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse.
If you believe that your loved one has been a victim of elder abuse, it is critical that you speak with an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney as soon as possible. Proving a case of elder abuse requires key knowledge of the law and due diligence to investigate the facts. The Personal Injury and Elder Abuse Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., have helped countless injury victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. Our comparing and compassionate attorneys understand the complexity of elder abuse cases. To speak with an attorney about your case, contact our office at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., we fight for justice.