Elder Abuse

An increasingly vulnerable part of our society's population is the elderly community. There are ample opportunities for our elderly citizens to be victimized, and as their numbers grow due to longer lifespans, so, too, do the instances of victimization.

Elder abuse can manifest itself in a number of different ways. It can occur in any location where we trust our loved ones to receive care. One form is financial exploitation, which can be defined as a devious party attempting to manipulate an elderly individual or couple for its own financial gain. This type of abuse typically happens in two ways:

• Financial elderly abuse from a family member who has identified and isolated his or her family member in order to "assist" with financial affairs, only to take advantage of the elderly family member
• Predatory business financial elder abuse, in which an unsavory and morally devoid businessperson attempts to sell goods and/or services that the customer doesn't need and the provider never completes

It is important to contact one of our compassionate attorneys at Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, L.L.P if you suspect a loved one to be the victim of elder abuse. A common difficulty in pursuing these kinds of lawsuits is not proving the abuse by the defendant, but getting our loved ones to admit what has happened. Many of the defendants in these kinds of cases choose the victims that they think are less likely to speak up or be believed. A nursing home is a target-rich environment.

Many of the cases that we handle involve nursing homes and the neglect that our clients have faced while there. For example, our attorneys were able to secure a $315,000 verdict for an elderly woman who fractured her hip due to a fall accident.

It is important that you follow up with any reported accidents that your loved one experiences while at a nursing home. If something does not feel right, or if you suspect that you are not being told the entire story by either the nursing home or your loved one, contact one of your dedicated elder abuse attorneys today. We can sit down, listen to your concerns, and offer insight into your elder abuse claim.

The signs of elder abuse can show up both physically and emotionally by way of behavioral changes. Some physical indicators that you can identify if you suspect a loved one of being physically abused are:

• rapid, unexplained weight loss;
• unexplained painful reaction to touch; and
• unexplained bruises, broken bones, or skin damage.

Elder abuse is likely to produce behavioral changes in our loved ones that we may mistakenly attribute to old age, or the symptom of a degenerative disease from which our loved ones may be suffering. It is important to watch for extreme variances in your loved one's levels of agitation, fear, or hesitancy to speak openly about experiences. Instances can take place at a nursing home or in the care of another, even a family member.

Elder abuse is a tragedy that can result in catastrophic injury, or even death. It is important to try not to pursue these claims alone. Our attorneys know how to aggressively defend the rights of your loved one should he or she be victimized by neglect or physical and emotional abuse. Contact us at (408) 289-1417 to schedule a consultation with one of our elder abuse lawyers today.