How to protect the elderly from sexual predators

Once our parents or grandparents reach become senior citizens we want the best for them and being treated right. Sadly more news about elderly have come into fruition, generating concern about their health and safety status.

Recently in Baltimore, Dorothy Ann Brown, a 72 year old woman, owner of a assisted-living facility in her home was charged of a rape to a 67 year old woman. After the allegations to the police, the place currently closed down, meanwhile the other residents have been removed from the site.

The victim has mental issues including dementia and has been under protection. With more cases happening to elderly people, we have to protect them.

How can we do it? By taking care of them and looking for a way to keep in touch. Each individual case is different, but the ways to help out are the same.

I’m sharing a guide to help the elderly from Nursing Home Abuse Center.

• Avoid isolating elders. This can cause depression, sadness, and loneliness that will increase the chances of neglect or abuse.
• Stay in touch with your elders. Family members can help care for the elderly person and be on the lookout for changes that may suggest abuse.
• Keep the elderly active. By staying active in old age, this can prolong an elder’s life and decrease the chances that they will be vulnerable to elder abuse.
• Encourage elders to attend religious services and community activities. This can help them stay in touch with things that have been important to them throughout their life.
• Don’t allow the elderly to live with someone who is known to be abusive or violent. Once a person has a history of violence, they are likely to repeat that behavior again, especially when someone is vulnerable. 
• Be wary of caregivers or friends needing financial help, or those who have issues with illicit drugs. These are people who may manipulate an elder and steal or mismanaged finances.
• Elders should be aware of their own financial affairs. Elders may require the help of a trusted relative or friend to manage their money, but ultimately they should be the sole one in control of finances.
• Don’t allow a caretaker or family member to impulsively alter an elder’s will, or add their names to financial accounts or land titles. These are people who put an elder at risk for financial exploitation.
• Inform elders to be wary of solicitations from the telephone, internet or mail. These are likely to be scams designed to steal an elderly person’s money.

I hope you learned a little bit of the reality many of our elderly citizens have been under attack. Please share this with your relatives and let them know of this epidemic and how to prevent it.

Source: Baltimore Sun and MEAWW