Demographic Trend Fuels Growing Problem
There is an interesting demographic phenomenon unfolding in the United States at the present time. During the period between 1946 and 1964, an inordinate number of babies were born. This unfolding is referred to as the “baby boom,” and if you do the math, you can see that people that comprise this age group are becoming senior citizens.
To put the volume into perspective, the Social Security Administration is accepting between 10,000 and 15,000 applications for benefits each and every day. Because of this aging of the population, legal matters that are of interest to seniors are taking center stage.
The Orange County civil litigation attorneys at our firm assist seniors and their families when they are impacted by negative circumstances. Unfortunately, elder abuse has become a recurring problem, and it is important to exercise legal powers to put it to an end and send a powerful message the perpetrators.
Elder Financial Abuse
When you have been perfectly capable of handling your own affairs throughout your life, it can be hard to imagine a time when you will not be able to function independently. This may not be the most pleasant thing to consider, but it is likely that you will need living assistance at some point in time if you are fortunate enough to attain senior citizen status.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services maintains a website called longtermcare.gov. They share a great deal of interesting research on their site, and one statistic immediately catches your attention. Once you reach the age of 65, there is a 70 percent chance that you will require long term care at some point in time.
Many people that are in this situation rely family members, friends, and/or neighbors to provide them with the help that they need. Unfortunately, in all too many instances, these care givers decide to take liberties that are illegal.
It is difficult for experts to come up with an accurate estimate with regard to the extent of elder financial abuse, because just under 3 percent of cases are actually reported to authorities. Why would so many seniors fail to report to the financial abuse? As we stated above, the caregivers are usually people that are close to the victims.
The abusers are not reported because the victims do not want to get them in trouble, and of course, the seniors need the assistance that is being provided.
This scenario is common, but it is not the only way that elders are financially exploited. Unscrupulous members of the medical profession, bank employees, and scam perpetrators can and do target senior citizens.
Nursing Home Abuse
Everyone has heard of Alzheimer’s disease, but a lot of people are surprised when they find out about its ubiquitous nature. The Alzheimer’s Association tells us that about 40 percent of people that are 85 years of age and older have contracted the disease.
If you are fortunate enough to celebrate your 67th birthday, your life expectancy will be at least 85 years. Clearly, many people with Alzheimer’s disease spend time in nursing homes, and this is not the only underlying condition that would trigger the need for nursing home care.
Sadly, it is not entirely uncommon for elders to experience physical abuse in nursing homes. There can be instances of neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and willful deprivation. This behavior is abhorrent, and it should not go unpunished. Our firm can enter the picture to send a very strong message if you have a family member that has been abused in a nursing home.
Schedule a Consultation Today!
We are here to help if you would like to discuss an elder abuse case or any other legal matter with an Orange County civil litigation attorney. Our firm places an emphasis on personalized attention, solid communication, and receptiveness. When you work with us, you will immediately recognize our deep and abiding commitment to our clients.
You can send us a message through our contact page to request a consultation appointment, and we can be reached by phone at 714-406-4610.
