Elder Care Chapel Hill - What Can a Concerned Person Do to Stop Elder Abuse?

By:  Todd Palmer

Elder Care Chapel Hill - The senior care professionals of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, are aware that elder abuse is, unfortunately, an issue that many families must address. The proper way to handle this situation depends, though, upon the environment in which the abuse takes place. No matter where the abuse happens, or who commits it, it is crucial that you and your family do everything possible to protect your elderly loved one against such mistreatment.

Abuse Committed by Professionals

Whether it is in an assisted living, nursing home, or home care setting, abuse at the hands of professional elder care providers is something that does take place. If you suspect that your senior is suffering at the hands of a professional caregiver, it is crucial to get them out of the situation as soon as possible. This might entail requesting that a different home care provider is assigned to your loved one, moving them out of a nursing home, or having them transferred to a new assisted living facility.

While it is important to quickly protect your senior, it is equally as important to, after they are removed from danger, ensure that the allegations against professional caregivers are true. The company that employs the accused caregiver should be willing to work with you to find out what, exactly, has taken place.

Abuse Committed by Family Members

Taking care of an elderly family member can be incredibly taxing, particularly if the responsibility falls to one single person. But the immense stress of the situation does not make it acceptable to abuse seniors physically, emotionally, or financially. If you are worried that your elderly loved one is being mistreated by a family member, it is important to speak to both your senior and their caregiver. If necessary, have another trusted individual take over care until the situation is resolved. Should abuse allegations be true, counseling is often recommended—as well as hiring a professional caregiver or having another family member take over the responsibility.

Elder abuse is, unfortunately, something that many families must face. Should your senior fall victim to any form of abuse at the hands of a caregiver, whether they are a professional or a family member, it is incredibly important to step in and address the situation.


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Memory loss is, quite honestly, a very scary thing to experience. As such, your senior may feel frustrated, insecure, or uncomfortable when they cannot remember certain details. The key to keeping them from continuing to carry on a confrontation is to stop the argument and either explain the situation to your senior or, if they have severe memory loss, move on to a new topic of conversation.

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If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.