Each year, hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited. Elders throughout the United States lose an estimated $2.6 billion or more annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that could have been used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care. No one is immune to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It occurs in every demographic, and can happen to anyone- a family member, a neighbor, even you. Yet it is estimated that only about one in five of those crimes are ever reported or discovered.
I became involved with Elder Abuse issues in 2005 after being called to care for my elderly Father who resided in California, while I was residing in AZ. Six years later, and over 1 million dollars lighter, Dad has been the victim of Elder abuse, Elder neglect and we both have been victims of financial fraud and elder exploitation, all at the hands of paid professionals in the Elder Care community. My experience has opened my eyes as to how our seniors are treated by the Elder Care Community, and how they are exploited financially by those in whom we placed our trust. Elder fraud affects not only the elder, but the person, usually the spouse or the adult child, who is caring for the Elder.
The care giver suffers the loss of their freedom, including time from work, which results in a loss of income. If the courts become involved, the caregiver can be expected to care for the Elder full time without any compensatin, leading to their own personal financial demise, which happened to me.
We must become aware of Elder Abuse Issues and how caring for an elder can affect our own financial and emotional security. Elder Care will one day, become a reality to each and every one of us. I was not prepared. . . Are you?
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