ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Elder Abuse on the Rise
Warning Signs of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is quickly becoming commonplace for far too many of our seniors. The National Council on Aging recently estimated that one in ten seniors over 60 have been abused in the US, and that practically 50 percent of seniors with dementia are victims of abuse. Elders with cognitive impairment face far greater risks of abuse in part because they may be unable to recognize or report their abuser or even be unaware any abuse has occurred, particularly when it comes to money matters. The financial elder abuse attorneys at Evans Law Firm, Inc. represent senior victims of financial elder abuse against all parties responsible. If you or someone you know is suffering from any form of elder abuse in Marin County or elsewhere in California, call our elder abuse attorneys today at 415-441-8669, and we can help.
The best defense against elder abuse is to learn how to identify it, and watch for any warning signs in among your family and loved ones. Report suspicions of any financial elder abuse to the police and Adult Protective Services but also seek out counsel to represent you in holding those responsible for the abuse accountable. Our lawyers will pursue all remedies available against the financial predators, including extra damages and the award of attorneys’ fees and costs for seniors with elder abuse claims. Calif. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15657 and 15657.5.
Watch for signs of financial elder abuse:
- Unexpected changes in wills, trusts or powers of attorney.
- Sale to the senior of an inappropriate annuity or life insurance policy.
- Changes in spending habits and cash withdrawals or different types of spending than the senior normally incurs.
- Sudden or unexplained check cashing, transfers of money or ATM withdrawals or credit card activity.
- Opening of a new bank or brokerage account (or multiple accounts) or changing banks and brokerage firms.
- Unpaid bills.
- Unusual increase in investment activity or change in investment style.
- A senior who is overly reluctant to discuss financial matters perhaps out of fear from retaliation from a caregiver or other abuser.
- Allowing a new friend or trusted acquaintance to make decisions on the elderly person’s behalf
- Someone screening the elder’s phone calls or going through their mail
Contact Us
If you or a loved one is or has been the victim of elder abuse in Marin County or elsewhere in California, contact Ingrid M. Evans and the other elder abuse attorneys at the Evans Law Firm at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com. We can help guide your case through a jury trial or toward an equitable settlement. We handle cases involving physical and financial elder abuse, qui tam and whistleblower law, nursing home abuse, whole life insurance and universal life insurance, and indexed, variable, and fixed annuities.
