World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 15, 2013 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

What is elder abuse?

Elder abuse refers to any intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.

Laws vary considerably from state to state, but these are the U.S. Department on Health and Human Services uses the following definitions of abuse:

Physical Abuse: inflicting physical pain or injury on a senior, e.g. slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical or chemical means.
Sexual Abuse: non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
Neglect: the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder.
Exploitation: the illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a senior for someone else's benefit.
Emotional Abuse: inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts, e.g. humiliating, intimidating, or threatening.
Abandonment: desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
Self-neglect: characterized as the failure of a person to perform essential, self-care tasks and that such failure threatens his/her own health or safety.

Millions of elderly people are patients in nursing homes and long-term care facilities – and they deserve to be safe.

If you suspect elder abuse or neglect, contact the Adult Protective Services agency in your state

Full listings available from the National Center on Elder Abuse

Oregon: 1-800-232-3020

Washington: 1-866-363-4276

California: 1-800-231-4024

About the Author

Tom D'Amore is the founder of D'Amore Law Group and a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families across the West Coast, securing more than $325 million in recoveries. He handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, construction injuries, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Tom is the only NBTA board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon. He is a national Board of Governors member, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice, as well as past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice.