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In Florida, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs works hard to ensure the “safety and wellbeing of elderly individuals in Florida.” Their mission is simple: “To serve elders as they live, contribute and build legacies in Florida.” Older adults residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes can be especially vulnerable to neglect and abuse. In fact, based on information from the National Center on Elder Abuse, Bureau of Justice Statistics, over two million elderly individuals suffer from abuse of some kind.

Whether you are concerned for an elderly loved one, friend or neighbor, Ft. Myers personal injury attorney Randall Spivey encourages you to watch out for elder abuse. There are several groups of elderly people who may be at risk, according to the Area Agency on Aging. Those group include individuals who are disabled or frail, as well as those who are mentally impaired, confused or disoriented. The agency also notes that abuse of older women is more commonly reported than abuse involving older men.

So, what should you do if you suspect elder abuse?

Reporting Suspected Elder Abuse in Florida

The Area Agency on Aging notes that state law requires any individual who reasonably suspects or knows that an individual is currently suffering from abuse, has been abused previously or is suffering from neglect or any form of exploitation to report such information right away to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE. The hotline takes calls all day, every day and the counselor handling the call will let all callers know whether or not the claims made with respect to alleged abuse will be investigated.

Preventing Elder Abuse

The Department of Elder Affairs’ Elder Abuse Prevention Program “serves anyone in need of information on the signs, symptoms and prevention of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, including information on how to report suspected abuse.”

The Department notes that there are ways for individuals to minimize the risk of becoming victims, particularly when it comes to abuse and exploitation. It is important for elderly individuals and/or vulnerable adults to understand that no one has a right to yell at them or threaten them in any way, nor do they have a right to mistreat, humiliate or hit them.

With respect to property and finances, elderly people also have a right to maintain control of their own financial affairs. Sadly, financial exploitation of the elderly is extremely common, yet there are a number of things that can be done to prevent such exploitation from occurring.

For instance, if someone reaches out to you over the phone requesting money or claiming that you’ve won a prize of some sort, be very careful and do not let the caller try to intimidate you -- simply hang up and end the call right away.

Elder abuse can happen to anybody at any time. If you believe you have been abused or if you have a family member or friend whom you believe has been abused, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. as soon as possible for help with your case.