Elder abuse happens all the time and in all sorts of different ways. According to nursing home neglect lawyers, when elders are not safe at home, we cannot expect them to be safe at nursing homes. Hundreds of thousands of cases are reported in the United States every year, and thousands more go unreported. It is important to recognize what elder abuse is to determine if it is happening to you or someone you know.
The definition of abuse for both children and vulnerable adults in Arizona is outlined in A.R.S § 13-3623. Vulnerable adults are considered adults over age 18 who cannot protect themselves from various types of abuse, and who cannot prevent abuse from happening because of a mental or physical impairment.
The main statutes in Arizona that govern elder abuse are found under A.R.S. §§ Title 46, Chapter 4: Adult Protective Services. Adult Protective Services (APS) is a government agency that works with the law and other organizations to research reports of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other cases of abuse towards those over age 18. APS has an elder abuse hotline and other resources for those wishing to know more.
There are several types of elder abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, financial abuse or exploitation, and neglect. In Arizona, the most common allegation of elder abuse involve self-neglect type situations where the adult has an inability to take care of basic needs, medical needs, finances, home environment, or personal hygiene. Often this type of neglect is in conjunction with declining health, isolation, dementia, or drug/alcohol dependency. If the problems of abuse or neglect are severe enough, a guardian or conservator may be appointed by the court.
Some warning signs for the above types of abuse include the following: unexplained bruises and cuts, fractures, cigarette burns, sunken eyes or cheeks, dehydrations, soiled clothing or bed, forced isolation, fear, confusion or disorientation, torn or bloody underclothes, difficulty walking or sitting, lack of eye contact, eating disorders, an anxious to please personality, depression, withdrawal, confusion about missing funds, unusual banking activity, unpaid bills, neglect of needs, frequent gifts to caretakers, frequent trips to bank with another person, signing on loans with others, bedsores, lack of personal hygiene, soiled bedding, hoarding of objects or animals, or improper use of medication. The company website here is where you can find more information on getting your finances sorted with the help of experts.
Anyone who is in regular contact with an older adult has a responsibility to become aware of signs of abuse and to report any signs of abuse to the proper authorities. Please consider calling APS at 1-877-767-2385 if you suspect elder abuse.
If you or a loved one is a victim of elder abuse, there are options available to you to resolve the issue. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options concerning elder abuse, please contact The Carroll Law Firm at 623-551-9366!
