1215 31st St. NW, #3995
Washington, D.C. 20007
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202-567-7110

Elder Abuse Litigation

What is elder abuse?

Elder abuse is any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Elder abuse may be:

  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Neglect
  • Self-neglect
  • Abandonment
  • Emotional abuse
  • Exploitation
  • Financial abuse

Tens of thousands of seniors across the United States are victims of elder abuse. The elderly are susceptible to abuse, neglect, or exploitation at the hands of people who are the most trusted by the victims, such as a spouse, children, or grandchildren. In addition, elder abuse occurs by caregivers in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, in-home caretakers and from financial or other advisors.

Signs of Elder Abuse

Signs of elder abuse may be subtle and often times can be wrongly attributed to an elderly person’s frailty. A caregiver inflicting the abuse may try to explain away a particular incident or injury suffered by the elderly person. It is important to be alert and probe the elderly person or others who may have knowledge about the surrounding circumstances.

The presence of one or more signs is not necessarily proof that an elderly person is experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation. However, it is important not to ignore the following signs as it may indicate there is a problem:

  • Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect, or mistreatment
  • Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness, and unusual depression may be indicators of emotional abuse
  • Bruises around the breasts or genital area can occur from sexual abuse
  • Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and unusual weight loss are indicators of possible neglect
  • Behavior such as belittling, threats, and other uses of power and control by spouses are indicators of verbal or emotional abuse
  • Strained or tense relationships, frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person are also signs
  • Caregiver isolating the elder person or prevents them from interacting with family members or friends unless he or she is present
  • Caregiver starts to express more concern about the elder person’s finances than about his or her physical and/or mental health
  • Unusual banking activity may be indicators of exploitation
  • Sudden changes in financial situations may be the result of exploitation
  • Changes in estate planning, or transfers of assets, deeds or trusts may be a sign of exploitation

Elderly victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation often suffer in silence. Therefore, it is imperative to be involved and alert to what is going on in the elder person’s life. If you notice changes in their personality or behavior, determine what is causing these changes.

If you suspect someone is a victim try to determine the pervasiveness of the abuse. If the situation is beyond your control, seek assistance from the District of Columbia Department of Human Rights, Adult Protective Services, or a law firm like the Nelson Law Firm that focus on elder abuse.

Please visit our Resource page and access useful links to learn more about elder abuse and services available to you.

For further information or to discuss how we can help you, please call the Nelson Law Firm at 202-567-7110 or send an email to [email protected].