Senior Abuse

Senior citizens deserve to be revered, not abused.

At Bishop & Heenan Law Firm, we take pride in representing senior citizens throughout the State of Montana, ensuring that their rights are protected.  If you or a loved one is the victim of elder abuse or nursing home neglect, contact the Montana elder abuse lawyers at Bishop & Heenan Law Firm for a confidential and free case evaluation.

What is Elder Abuse? 

Elder abuse comes in many forms, including:

• Physical abuse
  
• Emotional abuse
• Financial fraud and exploitation
• Neglect by a nursing home or care provider

With the bad economy and our aging society, seniors are increasingly the targets of fraud and financial abuse.  In fact, there were over 500,000 reported cases of elder abuse nationwide last year, and it is estimated that millions more cases go unreported.  Elder abuse comes in many forms, including financial exploitation or neglect by a nursing home or caregiver.

Signs of Elder Financial Abuse  

Financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of a senior’s money or assets.  Examples could include cashing a senior’s checks without permission, forging a signature, misusing account funds, or coercing a senior to sign a document such as a power of attorney.  Signs of financial exploitation can include sudden changes in banking practices or unauthorized withdraws of a senior’s funds.  Financial advisers and banks are in a position where they might have knowledge of such transactions, and may have a duty to stop it.  An experienced consumer protection attorney will be in a position to analyze whether particular parties have an obligation to remedy the financial exploitation of a senior.

Signs of Elder Neglect and Physical Abuse (Nursing Home Neglect)

Nursing homes and other caregivers are paid to care for seniors in an appropriate manner.  When they fail to live up to their obligations, they may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by the senior.  Signs and symptoms of neglect and abuse by a caregiver can include dehydration, bed sores, or untreated health conditions.  It can also include unclean living conditions such as soiled bedding or inadequate clothing.  A Montana nursing home neglect attorney will be able to assess the legal standard of care the nursing home or caregiver is required to follow and determine whether a claim for neglect exists.  In any type of possible elder abuse, the authorities should be advised so that the senior is removed from the dangerous situation.  

Bishop & Heenan Law Firm is proud to be recognized as a member of the AARP Lawyer Referral Network.