Abuse of the elderly by caregivers, family members, financial advisers, and other heartless perpetrators is a widespread problem that is even more distressing because it is often invisible. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, “We simply do not know for certain how many people are suffering from elder abuse and neglect. Signs of elder abuse may be missed by professionals working with older Americans because of lack of awareness and adequate training on detecting abuse. The elderly may be reluctant to report abuse themselves because of fear of retaliation, lack of physical and/or cognitive ability to report, or because they do not want to get the abuser in trouble.”
To help raise awareness about protecting elders across North Carolina, the N.C. Department of Health and Health Services’ Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) and its partners collaborated last June on efforts to raise awareness about protecting elders across the state.
The timing coincided with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, created in 2006 to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic factors that contribute to elder abuse and neglect.
“We must have engaged communities that know how to identify, report and prevent elder abuse and neglect,” said DAAS Director Suzanne Merrill.
North Carolina’s Attorney General recommends:
- You should report abuse to your local Department of Social Services in the county where the disabled adult lives.
- For additional help, call the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services CARE-LINE toll free within North Carolina at 1-800-662-7030.
- If you have questions about the laws that protect senior citizens or your legal rights as a senior citizen, contact the AG’s Public Protection Section experts at (919) 716-6780 or vcs@ncdoj.gov.
In 2014, more than 24,500 reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of older adults were made to North Carolina’s 100 County Departments of Social Services, an increase of 60% since 2008, reported nccourts.org. Experts believe that for every case reported, as many as 23 cases go unreported. Ninety percent of abusers are family members or trusted others.
Richard Manger, principal of Manger Law Firm, has extensive experience in wills and estates, litigation and settlements, with a focus on workers’ compensation and personal injury law. We are proud of the strong relationships of loyalty and trust we develop with our clients. We go above and beyond to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. You can contact Richard Manger via email at ram@mangerlaw.com, or by calling (336) 882-2000.