Caregivers of Older Adults Blog | Elder Abuse

The First Step to Preventing Elder Abuse Is Recognizing It

The physical, emotional, psychological, financial, and medical abuse of elders is a sad reality that causes pain and trauma for millions of older Americans.

As if the trail of destruction left by Hurricane Harvey wasn’t enough, another threat is rising in the wreckage: Disaster-related charity scams. Even worse? Many of these ruthless fraudsters have philanthropic seniors in their sights. Here’s a closer look at this elder care issue, along with tips on how caregivers can help seniors avoid falling victim to these opportunistic predators.

A recent CNN article shares the experiences of 83-year-old John Gutz, who narrowly avoided being bilked out of $10,000 by a ruthless scammer. Thanks to the intervention of his daughter, Gutz walked away from this particular incident unscathed financially. However, he’s one of the lucky few. The reality is that seniors are increasingly being targeted by an ever-growing breadth and depth of scams and schemes. Here’s what all caregivers should know.

From declining minds and bodies to the desire for independence and housing issues, seniors today face many challenges. Near the top of the list? Financial scams. The IRS recently highlighted one particular problem aimed at draining senior bank accounts: imposters posing as IRS representatives. 

In conversations about senior safety, physical and emotional wellness often take center stage. But what about financial wellness? With identity theft a growing problem in the United States and seniors particularly susceptible to it, it's critical for caregivers to understand this rising threat. Read on for a closer look at identity theft, along with four caregiver tips aimed at helping seniors reduce their risk of becoming victims.

Family is the core of life. Parents take care of their children. In turn, children look after their parents. An aging parent is a difficult part of life to navigate. Whether they are in their own home, your house, or in a retirement facility, you want the best care for them.

America's senior population is facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions. According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 45 percent of Americans over the age of 65 live below the poverty level. What does this mean in human terms?

In the age of the Internet, scams abound. These scams can be sent disguised as a plea from a family member, a friend asking for financial assistance, or even as a contest that needs a "tax fee" to receive winnings. According to a MetLife study of elder financial abuse, elderly victims of financial scams lost at least $2.9 billion in 2010. Some of these scams lead to identity theft, which comes with an added series of problems. mmLearn.org offers videos for family members and caregivers to help identify financial abuse of the elderly.

As the digital age evolves, scammers have developed new ways to mask their scams. Health scams have become increasingly difficult to identify. These scams can target anyone, but often seniors are the victims.
Fraud committed against senior citizens is so prevalent that the FBI has done research identifying why senior citizens have become targets. Seniors' health concerns and savings make them a health scammer's ideal target.

The word "bully" usually brings to mind thoughts of behaviors found on elementary school playgrounds and on the back of the bus. However, bullying doesn't necessarily end when childhood does. In fact, it can continue throughout life and even into the senior years. Let's take a closer look at the problem of senior bullying, along with management tips for seniors and caregivers.