Elder Law

The Disturbing Truth About Illinois Elder Abuse

By Levin & Perconti

Too little awareness is usually raised about the plight faced by senior seniors living in poor conditions or facing daily abuse. As was vividly displayed in the Congressional hearings on elder abuse last week, the vast majority of senior abuse is never reported. The silence is akin to acceptance, meaning that suffering victims are forced to endure unacceptable conditions?often until their death.

To help cut down on those sufferers, King News recently published a quick list of tips that can help all community members better notice the warning signs of elder abuse. For example, all bruising, skin abrasions, or pressure marks may be signs of abuse or neglect. When those physical identifiers are found near the breasts or genital area than sexual abuse may have occurred.

Emotional problems are often at play when a senior suddenly withdraws from normal activities or appears depressed. Observers should watch the relationship between a senior and caregiver closely to determine if there are arguments or indicators of tense interactions.

In nursing homes, the perpetrators of the Illinois nursing home abuse are varied, from nurses and administrators to aides and other residents. No matter who is the direct cause of the conduct, however, it is often difficult for a resident to find justice. In many cases embarrassment and shame prevent seniors from coming forward with information about the problem. For others, they may not be able to physically or mentally do anything to stop the misconduct or report it.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on March 12, 2011 (boomark / email).