As parents age, it’s natural for children and grandchildren to be concerned about their physical and mental well-being. Often, we entrust our older loved ones to professional caregivers—but caregivers do not always have your parents’ best interests at heart.
Even if you chose the caregiver yourself, you have a right to ensure that your parents are being respected and properly cared for in their old age. If you are currently experiencing issues with your aging or mentally-unsound parent’s caregiver, you may find the following information helpful.
Deterioration of Mental and Physical Health
It is not uncommon for elders to experience a deterioration of mental and physical health in their final years. Issues such as dementia, loss of mobility, and other diseases may prevent children and grandchildren from being able to provide parents or grandparents with the care they need on a regular basis. Senior citizens may need assistance with basic tasks such as cooking, bathing, dressing, or walking, so it is not uncommon for families to hire a caretaker. If your parent has a living will, he or she may have already designated an official caretaker and decision-maker for the future.
Mental Competence Issues
Elderly abuse victims are often subject to numerous illnesses and disorders that can impair their mental cognition. Many are also on powerful medications to treat pain, anxiety, and other issues that are common in the older population. An ill-intentioned caregiver can use this to his or her advantage by manipulating or ensuring that the victim cannot speak out about the abuse.
What Is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse comes in many forms, including, but not limited to:
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse,
- Use of a victim’s finances or property,
- Emotional manipulation, and
- Isolating a victim from his or her loved ones.
If you suspect that your parent’s caregiver is engaging in one or more of the acts above, you will certainly want to take action as soon as possible. Elder abuse is a serious crime, and no one deserves to be taken advantage of or exploited in their later years.
Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC provides legal assistance to the Bloomsburg and Columbia County. Our elder law attorneys aim to obtain justice for all of our clients. Call us today at (570) 784-5211 to discuss the details of your case.
