New York Elder Law

Elder financial abuse is fast becoming a national crisis. That is the message that a New York geriatrician and social scientist is spreading after conducting extensive scientific investigations into the extent of fraud and financial exploitation among local seniors. The doctor is encouraging friends, family members, caregivers, New York elder law attorneys, and others to keep a close eye out for the signs that this abuse might be occurring among seniors that they know.

As reported in the Centre Daily Times, the doctor’s latest work suggests that literally millions of seniors are victimized financially each and every year. Yet only a fraction of the instances of abuse ever come to the attention of authorities–only one in forty four, according to the report. In even fewer cases are the wrongdoers held accountable for their conduct. Previous work by this same team of researchers also found that those seniors who had been abused financially saw similar damaging effects on their physical well-being. The groundbreaking work revealed that mortality rates of elderly victims of financial abuse were significantly higher than for those who had not been abused. Suffice to say, this mistreatment has profound effects on the lives of victims and all efforts to limit the problem must be taken.

Yet, there is a long way to go before the mistreatment is stamped out. According to the latest research at least 2.5 million seniors are victims of financial abuse each and every year. Even then, that number may be a significant understatement. For one thing, it was reached mostly via self-reporting. Many seniors might hide their situation out of fear or embarrassment. Additionally, the research team noted that seniors who were suffering from a severe rate of mental decline were not polled in the survey. Yet it is that very group which is at the highest risk of being victimized by unscrupulous individuals willing to take advantage of them for personal financial gain.

The onset of medical conditions that affect brain function like dementia or Alzheimer’s often act as triggers for local residents and their families to visit a New York elder law attorney. As most are aware, these illnesses affect millions of individuals across the country. The brain conditions result in memory-loss, reduction in learning ability, and reasoning problems. Obviously these illnesses pose a serious threat to an individual’s ability to properly manage their affairs, and caregivers are often required to help with day-to-day activities.

While conditions like dementia are rarely found in anyone less than 65 years of age, there are a few lesser known illnesses that affect brain function and occur in younger individuals. Last month the New York Times profiled one of those forms of dementia, known as primary progressive aphasia (P.P.A.). The syndrome often strikes those in their 50s. Its rarity and the age at which it occurs often cause doctors to misdiagnose the condition as depression, anxiety, or even a stroke.

Unlike Alzheimer’s or dementia, P.P.A. does not initially affect memory but instead affects an individual’s communication abilities. An expert on the disease explains how P.P.A. damages the part of the brain that is used in word-finding, object naming, syntax, spelling, and word comprehension.

The wife of one 55-year old sufferer from P.P.A. explains her husband’s impairments, noting that “he can no longer punch in the numbers to operate the garage door or the microwave or the remote for the TV. He might open the car window, then not know how to close it.”

While communication impairment is the primary problem caused by P.P.A., eventually patients suffer other deficits, like memory-loss, various cognitive abnormalities, and even motor problems. It is for those reasons that the article concluded by recommending that those who may be suffering from P.P.A. visit an elder law attorney to ensure that their family’s financial affairs are in order.
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Articles Posted in New York Elder Law

New York Elder Care Advocates Claim Senior Financial Exploitation at Crisis Levels

Primary Progressive Aphasia Remains Little-Known Form of Dementia