New York City Elder Abuse Lawyer

The National Council on Aging defines elder abuse as an offense that creates potential or actual harm to an elder physically, financially, emotionally or mentally. There are four broad categories for elder abuse, particularly in a nursing home setting:

• Neglect is, unfortunately, common in nursing home settings, especially when patients are too incapacitated to advocate for themselves. The presence of painful bedsores or pressure ulcers may be a sign of elder neglect, as they can result from caregiver inattention.
• Emotional or mental abuse occurs when a nursing home staff member, or even a loved one, manipulate an elder such that they fear for their safety or the safety of others.
• False imprisonment occurs primarily in nursing homes when a staff member keeps a resident from exiting or entering certain areas of a facility by restricting his or her mobility (such as by preventing access to his or her wheelchair or cane).
• Financial abuse is an increasingly common form of abuse in which a staff member or loved one coerces an elder to amend a deed or will, or simply restricts their access to cash.

If you believe that your loved one is experiencing any of the aforementioned types of abuse, reach out to a compassionate NYC personal injury attorney experienced in elder abuse cases at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP.