• Services
  • Attorneys
  • Media & Insights
  • Online Payment
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the selection methodology can be found here.
  • Services
  • Attorneys
  • Media & Insights
  • About Us
  • Delivering Value
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Meritas
  • Contact Us
  • Online Payment
    A
    Alternative Dispute ResolutionAntitrust & Trade RegulationAppellate Practice
    B
    Banking & Financial ServicesBankruptcy, Creditors’ Rights, and Financial RestructuringBeer LawBusiness Law
    C
    Cannabis LawConstruction LawCooperative and Condominium Law (Co-op & Condo)Criminal Defense
    E
    Economic Development LawElder Care & Special Needs LawElectronic Discovery ("E-Discovery")Environmental LawERISA & Employee BenefitsEstate Planning and Administration & Wealth PreservationExecutive Compensation and Employment Strategies
    F
    Food, Beverage & HospitalityFranchise Law
    H
    Health Care & Life SciencesHealth Care ProvidersHigher EducationHospitals and Health Networks
    I
    ImmigrationInsurance CoverageIntellectual PropertyIntellectual Property Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute ResolutionIntellectual Property Portfolio Strategy, Management & LicensingInternational BusinessInternet Law
    L
    Labor & EmploymentLiquor Law, Licensing, Manufacturing, and DistributionLitigation
    M
    Media Law & Creative Economy PracticeMergers & AcquisitionsMunicipal Law
    N
    Non-Profit Law
    P
    Patent Preparation and ProsecutionPharmaceutical / Medical Devices / Pharma ServicesProducts and Consumer Liability DefenseProfessional LiabilityPublic Utilities
    R
    Real Estate, Finance, and Land Use
    S
    SecuritiesSolar Energy
    T
    TaxationTelecommunicationsTrademark & Copyright Protection & Enforcement
    V
    Venture Tech & Emerging Growth Companies
    W
    White Collar Investigations & DefenseWorkers’ Compensation
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Pennsylvania
    • Blogs
    • Articles
    • Podcasts
    • COVID-19 Resources

    Categories

    Aging Asset Protection Elder Exploitation Estate Planning Guardianship Health Care Decision-Making Medicaid Medicare Social Security Special Needs Uncategorized Veterans
    Blogs > Peace of Mind > Stepping in or Overstepping? Identifying...
    Member
    Shana Siegel
    Visit Profile

    Stepping in or Overstepping? Identifying When Help Is Needed During Holiday Visits

    Stepping in or Overstepping? Identifying When Help Is Needed During Holiday Visits

    It’s that time of year: holiday music, traffic, and annual pilgrimages to see parents, aunts, and uncles who live far away. As more seniors are living longer, more are living alone. This increases their risk of abuse and neglect.

    The holidays are a good time to check on our loved ones and assess what assistance they might need to safely age in their homes. However, it is important to come to the discussion with respect for your elder’s independence or your offers of help may be rebuffed.

    Questions to Ask

    Prepare a checklist of things to look out for and to discuss with your loved one. It might include questions such as:

    • Does an elderly loved one require help with housekeeping, dressing, bathing, shopping, meal preparation, or medications?
    • Are they isolated or lonely? How often do they socialize with others?
    • If living with another, are they dependent on that person for care?
    • Is that person an appropriate caregiver?
    • Does the caregiver understand the medical conditions that the elder has?

    Make the most of your visits by taking some private time with the elder to discuss future planning. Sometimes seniors need help but are afraid that their children or other relatives will force them out of their home if they share any concerns or difficulties. Reassuring your loved ones that you want to help them live the life they want can help. Such support and guidance can help prevent serious accidents and future health complications, allowing seniors to remain in their homes longer.

    How to Recognize If Help Is Needed

    However, other times seniors do not recognize their decline or limitations. During your visit, keep an eye out for warning signs of self-neglect, or exploitation by others. Possible signs of self-neglect or danger may include:

    • Senior appears confused or disengaged
    • Senior is no longer able to handle meal preparation, bathing, bill paying, etc.
    • The refrigerator is empty or it is clear that the kitchen has not been used recently
    • Senior is drinking too much or is abusing drugs
    • The substantial change in home appearance - cluttered or dirty
    • Senior is falling frequently
    • Car is scratched or dented or you observe the senior driving unsafely
    • Senior appears undernourished, dehydrated, under-medicated, or is not getting care for problems with eyesight, hearing, dental problems, incontinence, etc.

    Elder exploitation commonly occurs in early cognitive decline, so if your loved one is showing evidence of memory loss or other cognitive impairment, look for signs of elder abuse and exploitation:

    • Presence of “new best friend” who is willing to care for the senior for little or no cost
    • Recent changes in banking or spending patterns
    • Unwarranted repairs or renovations or mention of “helpful” neighbor who will handle repairs needed
    • Family pet seems neglected or abused
    • An abundance of online shopping packages, mail and/or phone solicitations for money

    Discuss any concerns with your loved one open and honestly. Ask your elderly loved ones directly if they are afraid of anyone, if anyone is taking things without their permission, if anyone is asking them to do things they are not comfortable with, or if anyone is humiliating them.

    Take the Next Step

    If you believe your loved one needs help, you should try to enlist other family members to offer support. If your loved one appears to be in danger and won’t accept the help you can call your local Adult Protective Services or Office on Aging. If the person lives in a licensed facility, call the local Long-term Care Ombudsman. You can also introduce yourself to responsible neighbors and friends. Give them your address and phone numbers in case of an emergency. It can be difficult to know when to intercede but taking time to observe, listen and understand what your loved ones are experiencing during your visits is the first step.

    If you have any questions about this post or any other related matters, please feel free to email me at ssiegel@norris-law.com.

    Member
    Shana Siegel
    Visit Profile

    Related Posts

    The Powers That Shouldn’t Be: Combating Fraud & Exploitation “The Importance of Choosing the Right Medicaid Advisor” “Just Put Her in a Nursing Home,” Said my Son

    Share

    Tags

    #elder abuse #elder care #solo seniors

    Helpful links

    • About Us
    • News
    • Services
    • Blogs
    • Attorneys
    • Articles
    • (COVID-19)
    • Award Methodology
    • Events
    • Join our Team
    Connect
    Online Payment

    Connect with Us

    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Youtube

    Join our growing team

    We are looking for quality attorneys to help us do more for our clients. At Norris McLaughlin, each attorney has the same opportunity to succeed whether you’re at the beginning of a career or pinnacle of the profession.

    Learn More

    Subscribe to our content

    Receive timely legal information delivered to your inbox

    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    © , Norris McLaughlin, P.A., All Rights Reserved. Attorney Advertising.
    VIEW OUR DISCLAIMER,  TERMS OF USE,  AND PRIVACY POLICY

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume you consent to our cookie policy. Learn more