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.
