California Elder Law Attorney Blog

Elder abuse takes many forms -- physical, emotional, financial and neglect -- but seniors might not recognize abuse or be reluctant to talk about being hurt by people they trust.

"Elder abuse is basically taking advantage of an older adult or putting them at risk," says California Elder Abuse Attorney Steven C. Peck. Depending on the type of abuse, there are a number of red flags.

"It can be injuries, bruising, missing teeth, broken false teeth or problems with hearing aids or glasses -- that could be the result of physical abuse," "Emotional abuse is much more subtle. You may see people who used to be out and vibrant in the community no longer going out and being engaged with friends or no longer carrying on long conversations on the phone because they're living with extended family and they're not free to have those conversations."

There could be a sign of financial abuse if a person suddenly discontinues eating out with friends. That could be related to the economy and people's retirement incomes, but it can also signal that a vulnerable senior's assets have been seized by adult children -- sometimes to support their addictions.

"We've heard some real horror stories about large amounts of money that people have grabbed from parents," states California Financial Elder Abuse Attorney Steven C. Peck.

"There are lots of people who are victims of abuse in one way or another and they may not know it is abuse or they may not know how to deal with it," Peck says.

Estimates suggest only one in 10 cases of older adult abuse is officially reported. Many seniors are women who lived in a household where they might have had little responsibility for family finances, yet in their later years they end up dealing with money matters since they tend to outlive men.

"It's important they learn how to deal with these issues," Peck says. "There are some things that you can do to protect yourself and there are things you can do if you are a victim of abuse."