While your wits are still about you, maybe learn about Elder Abuse

VintageBetter

VintageBetter

Senior Member
No one likes to talk about this issue, or DV in general. But anyone 60+ needs to know what Elder Abuse is.

Here are a few websites that can tell you the legal definitions, in general. You can also look up specific sites for your state.
https://justiceinaging.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Basics-Elder-Abuse-Chapter-Summary.pdf
What is Elder Abuse? | ACL Administration for Community Living
https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/law_aging/2020-abuse-definitions.pdf (This is a very good state-by-state chart.)
Elder Abuse | RAINN
NCEA | Elder Abuse

Have you ever called in and reported Elder Abuse? I have. It was in Los Angeles County. I'm trying to think if any system at all runs well in L.A. County, trying to remember....probably only the Earthquake Response Teams. They are pretty good at handling earthquakes. That's about it, in my opinion.

Anyway, I called in the suspected Elder Abuse, a social worker came out, I was not there so I did not see what kind of an inspection of the place she did, or if she did a thorough interview of the Elder. My report was for financial exploitation and emotional abuse. The younger person was her transpiration for long trips, and he was refusing to drive her. I offered to take her but she did not want my help - she felt I had enough on my plate. She expected him to do it in exchange for all the care she'd given him for 50 years, which seems fair to me! But he refused and that had gone on for a couple of months.

Nothing was done. No action taken. I don't even know if the social worker gave her a brochure on Elder Abuse to READ. Don't you think they could hand the elder a BROCHURE? Do they expect them to look everything up online?!

We have to tell young people that we older folks, we do like paper. Some elders do stuff online too just like they do, but I still prefer reading paper books because I was raised reading paper books.

Anyway - know your rights. Be safe out there and know your rights.
 

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Elder abuse is an epidemic IMHO. Not in the ways I always thought it would be. But, I have seen companies come in and sell the seniors products they don't need and when they do need a product, overprice them at insane prices. Some of my neighbors are getting scammed and it makes me so sad. But, you cannot do anything to help. I have tried to tell them to shop around, and be careful. It falls on deaf ears. I have seen some of my elder neighbors go into horrible debt because of elder abuse. :(((((.
 
When I applied for that one mobile home park, it was all online. I have heard that people older than me, do better with new technology than people in my age group. But they have to realize, not everyone is connected. I have a laptop but a flip phone. One day I may upgrade but I have no use for one at this time.

I think abuse is rampant and greed is a form of abuse.
 
Remy said:
When I applied for that one mobile home park, it was all online. I have heard that people older than me, do better with new technology than people in my age group. But they have to realize, not everyone is connected. I have a laptop but a flip phone. One day I may upgrade but I have no use for one at this time.

I think abuse is rampant and greed is a form of abuse.
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Have you considered visiting mobile homes for 55 plus?
 
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Thanks for posting this, @VintageBetter; I agree with all that elder abuse is very prevalent but practically nothing is ever done about it. In my county some years back, I was thinking about reporting it--never did so; long story, family sh*t--and could no longer find the number. Called the county and asked for the Elder Abuse phone number. "Oh, we folded that department into our Adult Protective Services Department; call them." Translation: "We laid off at least half of the social workers working in both departments. Ka-ching!"

Got curious and looked up Elder Abuse services on the state's site and it wasn't much better plus it had a link to a news story about how this state was cutting back on Elder Abuse services due to the fact that "elder abuse doesn't happen anywhere near as often as people think. We'd send an official to the elderly person's residence and 9 times out of 10, the elderly person was just fine and said it was a case of one or more of their grown kids falsely reporting another kid as the abuser. So we've cut back on those services." :mad:

Phooey on that; I think it happens a lot unfortunately.
 
Remy said:
Yes. That's what I want. I think it's safer.
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Maybe you could check out some mobile homes for 55 plus. Go to the mobile homes and speak to them personally. They often know who is ready to sell and can give you a heads up. From all the people I’ve talked with who have downsized to a mobile home, none of them regretted it. I think you’ll like it. Packing your stuff up ready to move at the drop of a hat, if the right home shows up, is a smart move.
 
@Remy If you buy a mobile home, you absolutely must be sure to get a home inspection prior to purchase (buyer usually has to pay for that - they can be anywhere from $300 to $600), and specifically ask them to check if the place has a gas shut-off valve installed. What those do is that if there is a strong earthquake, they shut off the gas automatically. This is very important with mobile homes because the gas lines run into them above ground. In a strong EQ, the mobile home can slip off its foundation, even if its been bolted on, then the gas line breaks and can start a fire.

I don't mean to scare you. A lot of people don't even know gas shut-off valves exist. So, I tell them about them. You can survive your home going crooked off its foundation. The floor would slant, but you can still walk out the door.

That is the big downside to mobile homes in CA. Most condos can withstand a strong quake. Many mobile homes will too, but it it slips off its foundation that can be a total loss and EQ insurance is very expensive. However, in a total loss you would qualify for some FEMA relocation money.

All home ownership is a risk, right? Just know your risks and get a home inspection to check the foundation and other vitally important stuff.
 
@PeppermintPatty Thank you. I'm looking diligently including for sale by owner. One problem is, many are older and I won't buy one of them. Newer ones go fast.

@VintageBetter Thank you for the gas shut off advice. I grew up in a big earthquake area, Santa Cruz. Down the coast from San Francisco. The area I'm in now is not considered a big earthquake risk area but one never knows. This planet has always moved.

One thing I can't do is let small inspection stuff turn me away again. Even that nice single wide. For the cost of it, I could have afforded a complete re-plumbing. But I let it go. It had Quest plumbing which I guess is considered not good and can leak and they stopped using it the year that mobile had been built, 1995. Those sellers had kindly had an inspection already done. It was not occupied, I'm assuming it was the heirs selling.
 
I have been involved in a few elder abuse cases. How an adult child can strike their parents is beyond me, but when they need money to gamble, pay bills, buy drugs or alcohol, they will do whatever to get some cash.
 
Remy said:
@PeppermintPatty Thank you. I'm looking diligently including for sale by owner. One problem is, many are older and I won't buy one of them. Newer ones go fast.

@VintageBetter Thank you for the gas shut off advice. I grew up in a big earthquake area, Santa Cruz. Down the coast from San Francisco. The area I'm in now is not considered a big earthquake risk area but one never knows. This planet has always moved.

One thing I can't do is let small inspection stuff turn me away again. Even that nice single wide. For the cost of it, I could have afforded a complete re-plumbing. But I let it go. It had Quest plumbing which I guess is considered not good and can leak and they stopped using it the year that mobile had been built, 1995. Those sellers had kindly had an inspection already done. It was not occupied, I'm assuming it was the heirs selling.
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@Remy . That’s smart not to get an older one. An inspection is a must. Ask lots of questions and take a notebook. The inspection should be done and paid for by you for obvious reason.

I think you’d be safer in a place made for reasons. You all could keep an eye out for each other. A villa sounds nice too but they might be more costly.
 
911 said:
I have been involved in a few elder abuse cases. How an adult child can strike their parents is beyond me, but when they need money to gamble, pay bills, buy drugs or alcohol, they will do whatever to get some cash.
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Did the greedy kids get charged with elder abuse? I hope so.
 

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