What to Do If You Suspect Elder Abuse
If you suspect that there is an elder abuse situation, whether it is a loved one, a neighbor, or anyone else; you have a responsibility to take a closer look at the situation. This means that you should question the elderly person and see what they have to say. Watch how their body reacts to questions as well, because many victims may not want to admit what is really going on. If you still feel that there is more to what is going on, you will then need to know what to do if you suspect elder abuse. For this, you may have to do a little searching.
Asking the Questions
Many elder loved ones do not want to admit that they are a victim of elder abuse. In case of financial abuse or mental abuse, they may feel that they are the ones doing something wrong. They may study their bank account to try and figure out where their money is going or how they forgot that they spent that amount on something. They may feel that they have to provide personal property to their brother or their child in return for their continued care. They may not want to admit that they trusted a person to help them only to find that the person has taken something they value. As a worst possible scenario, they may feel that they have done something wrong to deserve having their property or their money stolen, to have that person tell them they do not deserve the help that they require, and more. This means that you have to ask questions. Ask them what happened to their personal property. Find out why they seem to smile less. If you ignore what you are suspecting, the situation will only become worse.
Finding the Solution
An unfortunate aspect of elder abuse is that it is not always easy to prove. If you see bruises, that can be proven immediately. Other elder abuse types are difficult to see and hard to prove. For instance, a person with dementia may give away their property or sell it for only a fraction of what it is worth. Did that person do it knowingly? Were they tricked into it? Were they confused on that day or pushed by someone to make the decision that they did? The elderly person may simply feel that they messed up and did something stupid, but the truth is; they may have to put effort into it, but they can have it reversed if they are able to show some proof that they were not thinking clearly. They may not want to admit that they were so easily tricked. Many elder loved ones are filled with pride and hate to admit that they were taken advantage of. This makes them an easy target and hard to defend, but most areas now have an elderly protection agency of some type. You should make contact to have any questionable situation looked into by a third party.