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Is It Elder Abuse?

Financial abuse occurs when a caregiver takes advantage of an elderly person financially, either through stealing money, lying about how much the elder needs for certain care, or cashing the elder's checks without permission.

Signs of financial abuse:

• Caregiver withholds money from the elder

• Checks are cashed without permission of the elder

• Personal belongings begin to disappear

• Power of Attorney begins to be misused

• Caregiver isn’t actually providing the services that are needed

• Elders aren’t taken to the doctor when needed

• You notice unusual items being charged on a credit card

• You notice the elderly person requesting a transfer of assets or funds

• There’s sudden and abrupt changes in a will

• They are not aware of where all their money has gone

• Suddenly, they are unable to pay their bills

• They are unable to buy clothes, food, and other necessities

• You notice withdrawals of a lot of money at the same time or within the same week

Another form of abuse is neglect and abandonment, occurring when an elderly person isn’t being cared for properly, like not being fed, bathed, or properly medicated.  Ignoring an elder is also considered a form of neglect and abandonment, because the caregiver refuses to give them any sort of care. The signs of neglect and abandonment can sometimes be noticed with a simple inspection of a loved one, where you may see things like untreated sores or bed sores, malnutrition and/or dehydration, unsanitary living conditions, or dirty bed linens and clothes. You may also notice a strong odor coming from a loved one, due to the lack of continual hygiene, or obvious weight loss or weight gain. Sometimes an elder will actually begin begging you for food, or tell you they have some medical or dental need that hasn’t been tended to.

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