June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in six people over the age of 60 experience abuse each year.
Elder abuse is also more prevalent among senior citizens in nursing home and long-term care facilities.
There at least six major types of elder abuse.
If you are concerned that your elderly relative may be the victim of abuse, here are some signs that you should look for: Unexplained cuts or bruises; sudden malnourishment, poor hygiene, an unexplained loss of money and/or isolation from family members or friends.
Seniors who experience abuse will often exhibit signs of anxiety, depression, or confusion. The key to preventing or identifying elder abuse is to stay as involved in your relative’s life as possible.
The more present you are in your elderly relative’s life, the more unlikely it is for abuse to fly under the radar.
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, take some time to review how often you check in on your elderly relative.
It’s also a good idea to develop a plan to work with your family members as a team to share the responsibility of conducting regular wellness checks on your elderly relative.
Attorney Neil T. Lyons pursued a career in law for the sole purpose of helping people. His practice focuses on the area of elder law, including estate planning, trust and probate administration and guardianship. His early legal experience solidified his commitment to assisting, whenever possible, two very vulnerable groups: children and the elderly. He receives repeated recognition by various organizations for his pro bono efforts in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Neil also consistently engages in service to the legal community and joined the Luhrsen Goldberg staff in 2019.