ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
A new pilot program in Orange County formed March 1 aims to help victims of elder abuse, made up by a committee of county agencies.
The agencies in the network have reserved beds for older victims. The Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Registry’s reports of abuse against people 65 and older range from neglect to financial coercion, to emotional abuse, verbal assaults and physical attacks. Abusers are often family members, which can leave victims without caregivers or a safe living situation.
Abused elders are typically sent to hospitals in an emergency situation. Although traditional shelters will accept an elder abuse victim, they often do not have the resources, medical and otherwise, that these victims require.
The Orange County Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Registry received more than 9,000 reports of adult abuse in Orange County in 2014, a 13.5 percent from 2013 to 2014 and a 74 percent increase in the past 10 years. Adult Protective Services reported that 75 percent of those calls were for seniors 65 and older. Experts believe that many other claims go unreported, as elderly victims are often hesitant to report their abusers, who may be family members and providing financial assistance.
As the United States population ages, elder abuse is becoming a growing problem. By 2050, seniors are expected to comprise 20 percent of the total U.S. population.
Evans Law Firm, Inc. has offices throughout California, and handles elder abuse cases, including financial elder abuse and nursing home cases. If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder abuse, please contact the Evans Law Firm, Inc. at 415-441-8669 or via email at info@evanslaw.com.
