Part 3 of Of A Three-Part Series On Elder Abuse That Appeared In The Taconic Press Papers And The Independent, August 2006
Brooke Astor’s name is one that brings to the public’s attention a problem faced by thousands. Mrs. Astor, the 104 year old philanthropist, is under the legal guardianship of her son, who is now alleged by his son, her grandson, to be abusing her, both by neglecting her physical and psychological needs, and by misusing her funds, which are under his control. This case reflects the issues of elder abuse recently discussed in this column. When a person, by virtue of their mental incompetence, becomes at risk of harm to herself, physically, financially or otherwise, then someone, if not a relative or friend appointed by the person, then someone court-appointed, must step in to function as their guardian. If the person vested with legal power misuses it, then what can you do? The means of granting power, and of challenging elder abuse perpetrated through those powers, are discussed below.
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Part 2 Of A Three-Part Series On Elder Abuse That Appeared In The Taconic Press Papers And The Independent, August 2006
In this second installment of our series on Elder Abuse the focus is on financial abuse and exploitation. This kind of abuse or exploitation can be less obvious to the senior and others than physical or psychological abuse. However, the need for assistance with banking, paying bills, and making purchases can become as important as assistance with other daily needs. That need, and a senior’s isolation, boredom, and decreased mental acuity, may render her vulnerable to financial abuse or exploitation just as it does other forms of abuse. This article describes how to recognize the problem and the two primary types of perpetrators of abuse and exploitation: “insiders” and mass-exploiters. The next installment will discuss what you can do to enable those who are trusted to have the legal power to protect and care for you or someone you know.
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Part 1 Of A Three-Part Series On Elder Abuse That Appeared In The Taconic Press Papers And The Independent, August 2006
As the number of seniors in our community increases, so too does the risk of elder abuse. Elder abuse may include intentional physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; or it may be self-neglect, or neglect by a caregiver, whether or not intentional. Financial exploitation is another form of elder abuse that is on the increase, and it will be discussed in another installment. Likewise, the subject of abuse by institutional caregivers, such as nursing homes, raises a set of issues, legal and otherwise, too complex to cover in this preliminary article.
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