ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Elder Abuse Is An Epidemic
Millions of Americans have suffered from elder abuse in one form or another. Most cases of elder abuse go unreported according to government agencies and nonprofits who work to protect seniors. As our population ages, the incidents and forms of elder abuse will increase. The Marin County and California elder abuse attorneys at Evans Law Firm, Inc. are dedicated to doing all we can to protect seniors from elder abuse and represent them in pursuing their abusers in litigation.
We represent elder abuse victims and their families against all manner of abusers including caregivers, persons acting fraudulently under Powers of Attorney, insurance agents and companies who sell inappropriate/unsuitable insurance and other investments to seniors, brokers, reverse mortgage lenders, financial advisors, unscrupulous fiduciaries and trustees and others. If you or someone you know is the victim of financial elder abuse in Marin County or elsewhere in California, call Evans Law Firm today at 415-441-8669.
Types of Elder Abuse
The National Institute on Aging identifies a variety of forms of elder abuse:
- Financial: Taking a senior’s money or other property, selling a senior an inappropriate or unsuitable insurance policy or other investment, coercing a senior to make gifts or change the terms of a trust or Will, access to bank and brokerage account, accessing annuity or other insurance benefits, using a senior’s credit or debit card, and more.
- Physical: bodily harm, things like slapping, hitting, pinching, pushing.
- Neglect of an elderly person by ignoring their needs or withholding food, liquids, medication, or forms of assisting like bathing, turning in bed, and cleaning.
- Emotional/psychological: hurtful words, yelling, threatening, intimidating, and isolating a senior from his or her family and friends.
- Abandonment: leaving a senior or dependent adult alone with no plan of care or assistance.
- Sexual: forcing an elder to watch or participate in sexual acts.
The elder abuse attorneys at Evans Law Firm represent victims of each of these types of elder abuse. California leads the nation in protections for seniors and our attorneys pursue all remedies available under California law, which include restitution (getting the money back), rescission (undoing whatever contract or other transaction the abuser forced on the senior), extra damages including punitive damages and awards for pain and suffering, and attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the senior for having to bring a lawsuit to secure those remedies.
Spotting Signs of Abuse
The signs to look for when you suspect elder abuse include:
Trouble sleeping.
Depression or confusion.
Weight loss.
Signs of trauma, like rocking back and forth or withdrawal.
Agitated or violent behavior.
Unexplained, bruises, wounds, or scars.
Unwashed hair, poor hygiene, or dirty linens and clothes.
Developing bed sore or other conditions that can be avoided through appropriate care.
You know your senior loved one best and may detect other signs of trouble. The main thing is to stay alert and involved; don’t let the senior be isolated. Drop in often and unexpectedly. Make sure checks and valuables are kept in a safe place; avoid having a lot of cash in easy reach. If in-home care is required, do a thorough background check on anyone before hiring them. Dependent seniors are often victims of financial elder abuse by caregivers. Keep an eye out for strangers who suddenly become over-involved in a senior’s daily life. Lastly, if you’re a senior, let loved ones and longtime friends and professionals help you just as you helped them in your younger years. Stay in touch with family and old friends and, if you can, stay active in community or church or synagogue groups. Remaining in community is a way to enjoy yourself and keep yourself safe.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been the victim of physical, emotional or financial elder abuse in Marin County or elsewhere in California, contact elder abuse attorney Ingrid Evans and the other Evans Law Firm elder abuse attorneys at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our attorneys have experience with all types of physical and financial elder abuse, investment and securities fraud and annuity fraud, and nursing home abuse. We can guide your case through a jury trial, or toward an equitable settlement. We also handle qui tam and whistleblower lawsuits, whole life insurance and universal life insurance cases, and cases involving indexed, variable, and fixed annuities.
