Psychological Abuse

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As the elder population continues to grow, so do elder abuse cases. Elder abuse occurs in private homes and nursing or care facilities and it’s important that victims of elder abuse, contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can evaluate their case and represent them in court.

There are various types of abuse and one of them, psychological abuse, is also the most difficult to notice at first glance. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) state that “most cases of elder abuse are perpetrated by known and trusted others, particularly family members (including children, spouses, and others).” That makes reporting suspicion of abuse very difficult but it’s imperative that if you’re a victim or suspect someone else to be a victim of emotional abuse, you contact an experienced Sacramento nursing home injury attorney who can help you with your case.

What Is Psychological Abuse?

Psychological mistreatment is the infliction of mental anguish through:

Humiliation – ridiculing older people for their behavior and blaming them for certain attitudes, actions or events
Harassment – intimidating, threatening or provoking fear for health and well-being
Manipulation – denying access to information, giving false information, isolating the older person from others and interfering in decision-making

Emotional abuse can also include repeated swearing at, insulting, humiliating, rejecting, ignoring or frightening older people. The elderly population is one of the fastest-growing segments in the nation. In 2000, elderly were 13% of the population and in 2030, they will be 20%. By 2030, there will be more persons over the age of 65 than those under the age of 18. California has the largest elderly population in the U.S. at nearly 4 million and it’s only increasing. This makes recognizing crime more important but also more difficult.

Often, victims of elder abuse tend to be the most isolated of all victims and they tend to have fewer social connections to the community. It is important, that if you’re a victim or you know someone who is a victim, contact a Sacramento nursing home injury attorney for legal help.

Warning Signs Of Abuse

Some of the warning signs of emotional abuse are:

Changes in sleeping or eating habits
Low self-esteem
Feelings of defeat, hopelessness, or fear
Unusual mood swings
Isolation from usual groups and activities
Expressions of self-inflicted hurt or attempted suicide
Avoiding eye contact
Avoiding talking about possible abuse

Often, elder abuse is accompanied by elder neglect, which for a growing population, can be very devastating. Elder neglect is ignoring calls for help or not complying with routine physical care. Seniors are extremely vulnerable to psychological abuse and neglect due to their mental state and total dependence on a caregiver. It’s important that everyone who suspects a loved one is the victim of abuse contact an experienced elder abuse lawyer.

It’s disheartening to know that anyone would abuse or neglect senior adults, however, elderly or dependent adults are targeted usually because:

They are typically trustworthy
They often live alone or are isolated
They may not know the value of assets from their family
They may be in poor health and not survive the prosecution of the suspect
Due to guilt and embarrassment, they rarely report

There are a variety of reasons why the elderly can be abused but regardless of the circumstance, you need to contact an attorney who can legally represent you and help you in court.

Speak With Our Sacramento Nursing Home Injury Attorney About Elder Abuse Injuries

Contact our offices in Folsom or Sacramento to discuss your injuries with a lawyer. We offer a free initial consultation to all new clients. You can reach us by phone at 916-304-0952 or send us an email to schedule an appointment.