The most common elder abuse issue we deal with is when somebody takes advantage of our client’s mother or father. The culprit is often a family member, a “caregiver” or a new partner who has recently moved in with the victim who may be widowed, lonely, or suffering from a medical issue that leaves him or her vulnerable to exploitation. The abuser may take advantage of the elderly person by improperly accessing financial accounts/assets, forging a will (or hiding an existing will), isolating the parent from other family members, or convincing the victim to grant the culprit power of attorney. Believe it or not, some carers actually make a career out of building trust with older people who have assets and inveigling their way into the affairs of that person.
If you want to learn more about a person who has become involved with your parent, information can often be uncovered through a background check, which could reveal whether the subject has a history of similar activity or engages in criminal behaviour generally. When it comes to disputed wills, forensic analysis of handwriting and signatures can reveal whether a document has been forged.
Furthermore, an investigator can prove or disprove claims or allegations being made by a party when there is a dispute over an estate in a family provision claim for example. If an elderly person has gone missing for one reason or another, a private eye can endeavor to locate him or her through searches. If you are suspicious of a carer, family member, or any person for that matter, an investigator can place him or her under surveillance to obtain evidence of any wrongdoing. If assets are being improperly accessed, there may be avenues of inquiry available to an investigator.
While there isn’t currently an established measurement of the prevalence of elder abuse across the United States, studies from Canada and the United Kingdom have shown that between 2% and 8% of elderly people (aged 65+) experience at least one form of abuse in any given year.
ELDER ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS
Our private investigators can assist your family in recognizing the signs and will then work to make sure your elderly loved ones are well cared for. In the course of our elder abuse investigations, we perform thorough background investigations, conduct welfare checks and surveillance to make sure all is well with your loved ones.
Elder Abuse has increased dramatically over the last decade. Experts believe that our health care infrastructure is not prepared to meet our upcoming eldercare demands. Since COVID 19, many people are beginning to question the well-being of their loved ones.
Because of the high demand, various nursing homes have opened up to fill the gap in the market. Most of these homes go unregulated, and many practice unnecessary and dangerous practices that are hard to detect due to the lack of government funding to regulate these homes. Our elder abuse investigation services were designed to conduct background screening on nurses and caregivers, identify the signs of elder abuse and neglect, detect citizen fraud issues, and prevent over-medication and over sedation traumas.
What are Types Of Elder Abuse?
Besides the mismanagement of finances, elder abuse can also take the form of neglect or physical, sexual, social, and psychological abuse at the hands of trusted individuals who have a duty of care that they are supposed to uphold. Sometimes, both the victim and the perpetrator do not even recognize that abuse is occurring. Some common examples of elder abuse include:
- Intimidation, humiliation, or harassment.
- The threat of eviction or being placed in a nursing home/aged care facility.
- Socially isolating an individual (stopping the victim from seeing family/friends).
- Indecent or sexually manipulative behavior
- Denying access to services
- Neglecting a person’s physical, medical or emotional needs
- Denying a person’s right to make his or her own decisions.
Awareness and vigilance are necessary to identify and combat the issue of elder abuse. Some tell-tale signs that somebody you know could be a victim of the aforementioned forms of abuse are:
- Unexplained injuries
- Confusion, depression, or heightened anxiety in the elderly person
- The disappearance of personal belongings
- Malnutrition or weight loss
- Poor personal hygiene
- Social isolation
How Solved It Investigations Can Help With Your Elder Abuse Case
Solved It Investigations is owned and operated by Chris is a licensed nationwide private investigator who is a former police officer, detective sergeant, and chief of police. Detective Chris retired from law enforcement after being recruited by the state’s largest hospitals, where he managed the 60 members, public safety team. Chris was recognized in 2016 from the White House physician to the Vice President of the United States.
Because it is such a broad category of crime, elder abuse can occur in many forms and the implications of each case can vary wildly. Fortunately, Lyonswood Investigators are in a position to assist in an equally broad capacity. Contact us now to receive an obligation-free quote regarding your elder abuse matter.
