By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-10-18 14:04:20 | Word Count: 664
Physical Nursing Home abuse, and Financial Nursing Home abuse can be an issue that you face as you or a senior loved one ages. New Hampshire Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys will try to protect you and your senior loved one if abuse takes place in a senior care facility.
You can help the senior loved one in a Nursing Home if they have been abused by contacting the correct services, and listening to your senior loved one. The Adult Protective Services Agency is a helpful human service agency that is responsible for investigating reports of elder abuse and they also provide families with help and guidance. You may also want to contact doctors, nurses, police officers, lawyers, and social workers depending on the abuse case. You should always report abuse to the state long term care ombudsman in order for them to keep a record for that facility. Obviously, if your senior loved one is in danger or may be hurt badly from abuse, report to 911 directly with the problem or go to an emergency room right away. If you have a loved one that is out-of-state and you need to report and incident of abuse, you will want to call the Elder Care Locator at (800) 677-1116 for the direct in-state number or for assistance; this is a free and anonymous number.
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Some signs of elder abuse may include: Physical injury, emotional abuse, lack of physical care, unusual behaviors, changes in living arrangements, unexplained changes in appearance, financial changes, or any comments that may indicate the senior is being abused or taken advantage of. Many people who have been abused also suffer from dementia or Alzheimers disease, so pay close attention to your senior loved one and their habits.
Elder financial abuse is a seriously growing problem that many people may overlook. A financial scam artist may try to take all of your senior loved ones hard earned money or savings, so be sure to protect yourself and your senior loved one. Since todays seniors were raised to trust people more than that of the younger generation, that is the main reason they are targeted by financial scams and abuse. By recognizing some of the common financial scams, you can protect your senior loved one from becoming a victim of elder abuse. Some scams to look out for: Legal agreements they are asked to sign without the presence of a loving and caring advocate looking out for their best interest, financially sophisticated agreements that have complicated or confusing terminology, and salesmen who use terms that are unfamiliar to the senior, but may promise exceptional returns on the seniors investment.
Seniors may have health problems that put them at risk for financial abuse such as: Cognitive changes, medications that alter cognitive capabilities, lack of familiarity with computers and other informational resources, need for home care that expose their resources to outsiders who may not be bonded, or lack of availability of relatives. Some seniors may, however, be at-risk for financial abuse by relatives who wish to steal from their senior relative. Since financial scams are becoming more common, information on scams and solutions can be found on the internet, by contacting the Area Agency on Aging, or by speaking with a financial advisor.
If your senior loved one was a victim of physical or financial abuse, you will need to contact a senior abuse attorney. Often, they are called Elder Law Attorneys, and can be found in your local phone book. Sometimes, researching online to find the best attorney for your case can save time and energy. Either way, you will want to protect your senior loved ones well-being and their assets.
