• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Potter Law Firm

North Carolina and Kentucky Estate Planning Attorneys

phone iconNC (704) 944-3245
KY (606) 324-5516
Attend A Free Seminar - KY Attend A Free Webinar - NC/SC THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
  • Practice Areas
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Communities We Serve
    • Kentucky
      • Boyd County
        • Ashland
        • Florence
      • Kenton County
        • Covington
        • Fort Mitchell
        • Independence
    • North Carolina
      • Mecklenburg County
        • Charlotte
        • Davidson
        • Huntersville
  • Resources
    • Definitions
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law Links
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Local Elder Law Resources
        • Ashland Elder Resources
        • Covington Senior Resources
        • Huntersville Elder Law Resources
        • Independence Senior Resources
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Emergency Legal Documents
    • Free Estate Planning Seminars
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate Planning
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid
      • Pet Planning
      • Trust Administration & Probate
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Kentucky Probate Resources
      • Ashland, Kentucky Probate Resources
    • Newsletters
    • North Carolina Probate Resources
      • Huntersville, NC Probate Resources
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Contact Us
  • BLOG
Home » Elder Law » Understanding the Horrible Crime of Elder Abuse

Understanding the Horrible Crime of Elder Abuse

September 18, 2019 by John Potter

elder abuse exploitationOne of the most pressing matters within the elder law community is the mistreatment of senior citizens. This is an absolutely horrible crime, and it is difficult to understand how anyone could target some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Sadly, it is a fact of life, and you have to confront it with pragmatism to be in a position to protect yourself.

Shocking Forms of Abuse

The National Council on Aging has covered a lot of ground with regard to the elder abuse problem on their website. They break down the different types of physical abuse that elders are subject to in nursing facilities, and sometimes, in their own homes.

At the top of the list is the direct infliction of physical pain that can result in identifiable injuries. As unthinkable as it may sound, sexual abuse is not without precedent, along with various forms of emotional abuse including acts of intimidation, threats, harassment, and verbal assaults.

In some instances, an elder will be confined, restrained, or isolated when it is not medically necessary. Passive neglect is another form of abuse, and there are incidents of willful deprivation.

If you have reason to suspect that a loved one has been victimized in a nursing home, you could contact a Long-Term Care Ombudsman. These individuals are professionals that volunteer to advocate for long-term care facility residents.

Of course, a crime is a crime, and the police handle such matters. That being said, these cases can be difficult to prove, and an ombudsman will be able to learn the relevant facts and provide the appropriate recommendations.

Elder Financial Abuse and Exploitation

The physical abuse is absolutely devastating on multiple levels, but the despicable deeds do not stop there. Countless elders are abused and exploited financially each and every day, and estimated losses are somewhere in the vicinity of $36.5 billion a year. Yes, you read that right, and it may actually be understated.

Any situation that involves estimation requires projections, including elder abuse.   Elder abuse losses are extremely difficult to estimate accurately because so many cases go unreported. The state of New York has stated that there are about 44 unreported cases for every one abused senior citizen that actually comes forward.

Why is this percentage so small? Part of the reason is because many elders never know that they are being abused or exploited. In addition to this, some seniors who are well aware of the fact that they are being victimized intentionally choose to keep it to themselves.

In far too many cases, the perpetrators are family members and others who are acting as caregivers. The abused elders do not want to get them into trouble in many of these instances, and even if they wouldn’t mind, they do not want to lose the care that they are relying upon.

Of course, the threats are not limited to crimes of opportunity that are  committed by people with access. Older Americans are squarely in the cross hairs of scam artists, identity thieves, and ne’er-do-wells of every ilk. They perceive of elders as easy marks, and sometimes lonely seniors will be more open to contact with strangers than they would have been in the past.

Attend a Free Seminar

Our firm is holding a series of informative elder law and estate planning seminars over the coming weeks, and you can really learn a lot if you attend one of these sessions. There is no admission charge, but we do ask that you register in advance, because space is limited.

You can visit our seminar schedule page to check out the dates and obtain detailed registration information.

Schedule an Elder Law Consultation Today!

We are ready, willing, and able to provide assistance if you have concerns about elder abuse or any other issue that senior citizens are facing at the present time. Our attorneys have the ability to make our clients feel comfortable from the outset, and we provide personalized attention, because every situation is different.

If you are ready to take action, you can send us a message to request a consultation appointment or call us at 704-944-3245 in North Carolina (Charlotte, NC or Huntersville, NC) or 606-324-5516 in Ashland, Kentucky, or 859-372-6655 in Florence, KY.

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
John Potter
Latest posts by John Potter (see all)
  • What You Need to Know about the Medicaid Look-Back Rule - January 3, 2023
  • How to Pass Down Your Legacy in Your Estate Plan - October 3, 2022
  • Practical Steps to Take after Receiving a Terminal Diagnosis - September 30, 2022

Filed Under: Elder Law Tagged With: elder abuse, elder financial exploitation

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Medicaid estate recovery
Advocacy Groups Call for the Eradication of the Medicaid Estate Recovery Mandate
Medicare Part B premiums
An Overview of 2022 Medicare Cost Increases
elder financial abuse
Elder Financial Abuse Is a Looming Threat
Veterans Pension
This VA Benefit Can Give Seniors a Boost
long-term care planning
Will Medicare Cover Living Assistance?
nursing home asset protection Medicaid planning
Longevity Statistics Shed Light on Nursing Home Asset Protection

Free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

Texting Permission

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe to Our Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

default image

Overall The Potter Firm was very professional. They took what could of been a very complicated process and were able to break it down so it was a lot easier to understand. We are confident we now have made the right decisions in our estate planning. Good firm to work with.

DKS & KMS Client Review August 28, 2020

default image

John Potter has been a real pleasure to work with. He is very knowledgeable and explains things in a very simplistic manner so the average person can understand how/why the laws are written. He is very attentive and asks questions in such a way that not only helps him understand your goals, but also helps you think about what type of goals and expectations you should be considering. Exemplary client service.

David J. Client Review August 28, 2020

default image

My husband and I selected Ms. Potter to assist with our small business. She responsive and attentive every time I have a question or need assistance, and is extremely knowledgeable and able to answer any legal question I have had. I know I can count on Ms. Potter for all of my business legal needs and I would highly recommend her to anyone needing legal assistance with such.

Jillian Client Review August 28, 2020

<< Prev
Next >>

Where We Are

Ashland

ASHLAND
1620 Carter Avenue
Ashland, KY 41101-7631
Phone: (606) 324-5516
Fax: (606) 324-4766

Charlotte

CHARLOTTE
15720 Brixham Hill Avenue
Suite 300,
Charlotte, NC 28277
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE
11330 Vanstory Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Northern Kentucky

NORTHERN KENTUCKY
7310 Turfway Road
Suite 550,
Florence, KY 41042
Phone: (859) 372-6655

Office Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Map/Location

potter_sidbr_map
potter law logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT