I not long ago learned about a gro...

I not long ago learned about a growing crime that is as insidious as it is unpardonable. It's a crime that is oftentimes hidden and is committed against those least able to espouse themselves -- the elderly.

from one side life-sustaining medical procedures, new medicines and better health care, tribe are living longer than aye before. But many are not living better. Many are being physically abused, mentally abused and financially exploited. As in child abuse, it's frequently a hidden problem. Seniors are worried about complaining about their care -- feeling, perhaps, the devil they know is better than the devil they don't know. to such a degree they take the abuse silently.

You may have read about the case of philanthropist Brooke Astor whose son is accused of willful heedlessness of her. Unfortunately, the case is not unusual.

Chicago's Department of Aging go afters up on hundreds of reports of abuse. The tamper with County Public Guardian's office also investigates centurys of reports of physical, mental and financial exploitation of senior citizens. A year ago it suited 730 reports and acted onward 430, which it substantiated as abuse.

Here's the worst part of the equation -- the majority of the abusers are the elderly's allow family members. Some don't want to pay for medications, others earn the elderly person to agree to sign from one side of to the other large sums of money, or simply forge the person's name.

Then there are those who simply quarry on seniors. A policeman was caught fleecing the bank account of an somewhat old person he had befriended. A Chicago lawyer, now disbarred, was discovered casing nursing domestic circles finding people who had no children or living family members, getting power of attorney or naming himself trustee for them, and cleaning gone out not only their bank accounts if it be not that selling any properties they avowed and pocketing the money. Caregivers have been discovered taking an somewhat old person to a bank and getting that character to withdraw huge sums of circulating medium Then there's the daughter of a woman with Alzheimer's disease who got power of attorney through her mother's estate. The mother will ne care for years to come; besides this daughter wrote herself a stupendous check from the account and bought a house. More lately she has told friends that she doesn't papal court the need to spend all the riches on medications for her mother. Regrettably, she doesn't be moved any guilt.

Susan Kennedy an attorney specializing in senior law, has some important suggestions in succession how we can all help to house those who are too frail too fearful, blind or infirm to understand there is help for them. It's also important information for you to have to make secure that you don't ever become undivided of the abused.

not at all give your Social Security number to anyone. If you grant power of attorney to someone in the conclusion of your incapacity, understand that, below new laws, that power cannot be revok from anyone except you. If you're incapacitated, that living body has full right to manage all of your affairs. Power of attorney is not monitored from the courts and could wind up to be the equivalent of identity theft.

A better plan: master your estate in order. Name sum of two units neutral parties to oversee it. Do not leave it up to your family members. This could lead to untold arguments. The extra views will prevent someone in your family -- or a doorman, a deliveryman, a caregiver -- from abusing you with other mortgages and no money to take care of yourself.

Banks are keeping a watchful organ of sight on accounts of the somewhat old They're calling the state's attorney's office when they suspect fraud, and the state's attorney's office is sharing the information with the Public Guardian and the Chicago Department in succession Aging.

You can help, too. If you have a relative or friend in a nursing to one's home go visit at all hours. Make certain the nursing family circle is aware of your visits and whom you're visiting. If the caregivers do something righteous praise them. If they haven't done something right, impediment them know you notice and ask for corrections to be made. The greatest in quantity vulnerable patients are those who have no visitors.

If you notice or suspect previously appointed [i]or[/i] commissioned abuse, don't be shy about reporting it. There are pair hotlines operating around the clock The hotline for nursing abiding-place abuse is: 800-252-4343. The common for abuse and neglect in the community is: 866-800-1409 You could be saving a life.

e-mail: marylaney@aol com

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