Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Research has consistently proven that substance abuse is often a very significant contributing factor to elder abuse. Whether it is the victim or the perpetrator with a substance-abuse problem, addictions can definitely lead to elder abuse. Researchers, for example, have shown that people who have substance-abuse problems may target elder family members for financial exploitation and fraud in order to support a substance-abuse problem. In some cases, perpetrators have moved into an elder person's home in order to operate a drug trafficking or drug use lifestyle.

In cases where elder abuse is perpetrated by a spouse, alcohol abuse or other substance abuse can contribute to the problem. An abusive spouse may rationalize their abuse through the use of drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol can also lower inhibitions and make someone more likely to be violent.

Caregivers with substance-abuse problems can also be a severe problem. Caregivers who are under stress as a result of providing care for an elderly person may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with their feelings and their stress levels. This can make them sloppy neglectful of their charges, and can also make them more likely to lash out at the elderly person that they may view as a “burden.” Caregivers may also force or compel an elderly person to take drugs or alcohol in order to make that person more passive and therefore easier to care for. In some cases the motives are even more sinister -- a caregiver may hope that an elderly person is passive so that they become easier to exploit financially.

Elderly persons who have a drug or substance-abuse problem may also be at increased risk for self neglect. Elderly people who do have a substance-abuse problem may be less likely to turn to someone for help if they are the victim of abuse. Plus, someone who has a substance-abuse problem at an elderly age can be far more vulnerable, especially if they rely on someone else in order to procure drugs or alcohol for them. The person procuring the drugs or alcohol can easily take advantage of an elderly person, who is doubly vulnerable will because of their addiction. Since alcohol and drugs can affect mobility, elderly persons with substance abuse problems may be at risk of slip and fall accidents, which can lead to spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries. Some medications can also react with alcohol and recreational drugs, so persons taking medication for a condition can complicate their conditions through a substance abuse problem.

Elderly persons may take drugs or alcohol in order to cope with abuse or other difficult situations. Unfortunately, seniors with addictions can create problems for themselves. Substance abuse can estrange these seniors from their families and can create conflicts with caregivers and family members. This can encourage abuse or can ensure that abuse continues, simply because the elderly person has no one to turn to.

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In many cases, Florida elder abuse is caused by caregivers. In some cases, stress or other problems cause a caregiver to not provide the level of care and elder person may require. There are fortunately many things that families and caregivers alike can do to help reduce elder abuse from ever happening. This is especially important in cases where an elderly person needs a caregiver because they cannot care for themselves. If an elderly person cannot care for themselves, an abusive or neglectful caregiver can allow an elderly person to slip and fall or to sustain life-threatening personal injuries.

One thing that families can do is to ensure that caregivers are well selected. If a professional caregiver or medical professional is needed to take care of an elderly loved one, a background check should be run to ensure that the person is qualified and has a good record of taking care of elderly people. Family and concerned friends should stay involved in the elderly person’s care, dropping by frequently and keeping communication good with the caregiver. That way, any signs of stress or distress on either the part of the caregiver or the elderly person can be duly noted and family can react before elder abuse becomes a problem.

Caregivers and family members themselves can help prevent elderly abuse by making sure that they do not have any of the factors that can lead to an abusive relationship. Caregivers who fear that they will become violent and caregivers who have low self-esteem are at greater risk of committing elder abuse. Caregivers who don't have enough support or help from others or those who view care giving as a type of burden may also be more like to act in a less than loving way.

Caregivers who feel trapped by taking care of elderly family members as well as other family members can also be at risk. Anyone who's providing care giving services will also want to make sure that they are not experiencing depression, anxiety, or symptoms of feeling burnt out. These can all contribute to abuse. It is also important is that the caregiver resolve any previous anger or bad relationship with the elderly person before taking care of that person. Old problems may resurface in an abusive way when an older person becomes dependent on the caregiver.

Is caregivers notice any of these possible problems, they can help prevent elder abuse by getting help. Using support groups, an adult day care, home delivered meals, additional support care, and other services can help reduce the stress that comes with care giving. This can be crucial in preventing abuse. Caregivers can also keep a journal to recognize triggers, or those things which cause them anxiety and stress. Avoiding these triggers can help prevent potentially explosive situations.

Caregivers and family members also need to ensure that they take care of themselves. Good nutrition, relaxation, and good exercise can help caregivers have the strength and resources to take care of elderly loved ones without stress. Those caregivers who have a hard time taking care of themselves may wish to hire attendants, homemakers, support workers, or other assistants to help them. If money is a factor, public assistance is available for caregivers.

When people think of elder abuse, they often assume that it is always something that is perpetrated by someone else. They assume that elder abuse always has a clear perpetrator and a clear victim. This is not always the case. In fact, some cases of abuse stem from self-neglect. The elderly can harm themselves by not taking care of themselves. For example, the elderly may avoid eating, may avoid going to the doctor for needed care, and may avoid using their heating system or doing other necessary things in order to stay safe and healthy. In extreme cases, self-neglect can lead to serious personal injuries, serious medical conditions, slip and fall accidents, and even death.

Unfortunately, while self-neglect is a type of elder abuse, it often goes undetected and unaddressed. In many cases, elders living alone can neglect themselves and have no one notice the neglect. In other cases, elder abuse becomes more complicated, when family and friends allow self-neglect to take place or actually remain unaware that it is taking place.

In Florida, where there is a high population of snowbirds and elders, self-neglect is a serious problem. Unfortunately, it is also very difficult problem with no clear solutions. On one hand, families do not want to take away an older person’s independence. In fact, taking away someone’s dependence can sometimes be very harmful to their self-esteem. At the same time, families may not know when to intervene. Some self-neglect doesn't cause serious harm, while other types can be dangerous. Determining what type of self-neglect a family is dealing with -- and what to do about it -- can be very challenging.

There are professionals and agencies that can help families determine whether self-neglect is a problem. And elder person's doctor can also be an excellent person to speak with about potential self-neglect. Seeking support is often the first step to ensuring that self-neglect does not continue and become a form of abuse.

Of course, while self-neglect is a serious problem, abuse by others still is a problem in Florida and other states. If you suspect that an elderly person is being abused by a caretaker, family member, spouse, or other person, you must report this to your local agency. You may also want to seek legal help to help ensure that the vulnerable adult gets the help they need to stay safe.

Continue reading "Florida Elder Abuse Is Not Always Caused By Someone Else" »

As our population ages, and as more people live longer, elder abuse has become a true problem. It is estimated to that for every case of elder abuse and neglect which is reported to the authorities, there may be as many as five cases or more which remain unreported and therefore not part of the statistics. Research has shown that those who are abused not only suffer greatly, but also tend to die earlier than those who are not abused, even in cases where no serious conditions are factor. Abuse simply creates a terrible emotional and physical burden that can lead to illness and death. Of course, abuse can also lead to life-threatening conditions and injuries, including brain injuries, broken limbs, burn injuries, and other trauma.

Many people mistakenly believe that elder abuse is mainly a problem in elder care facilities and nursing homes. This is not the case. Recent studies show that much elder abuse and neglect takes place in the home. In most cases, elderly persons know their abusers, who tend to be household members, family members, or paid caregivers in the home. Since the vast majority of the elderly live either on their own or in a home with family, elder abuse by family and in-home caregivers is in fact quite prevalent.

One problem with elder abuse that makes it so difficult to stop and prevent is the fact that elder abuse is not always as obvious and as clear-cut as people assume. In many cases, the abuse is subtle, and the elderly person may not even be aware that abuse is taking place. In fact, in many cases, even abusers themselves do not realize that abuse is taking place. As caregivers and family take care of an elderly person, stress levels may rise to extreme levels, especially if caregivers are responsible for other family members as well. Subtle forms of abuse may take place, and it may be difficult to distinguish between stress and abuse.

In some cases, elder abuse takes place because an elderly person moving in with an existing family, creating new stresses within the family. In other cases, elder abuse is part of a long-standing pattern of emotional or physical abuse or tensions within the family. As people get older and have increasing dependence or frailty and need others, the stress created by this increased need can push family relationships to the edge.

In some cases, elder abuse is perpetrated by another elderly person. Sometimes, an older adult or an older spouse will develop depression, dementia, or other problems and will become abusive as a result. This can be a very difficult problem, especially in cases where both elderly people -- both the perpetrator and the victim -- are part of the same family. Family members may want to deny the abuse or may be unwilling to deal with the abuse at the risk of having one person removed into a nursing home.

Continue reading "Florida Elder Abuse Can be a Family Problem" »