Due to a variety of mental and physical issues, seniors are fairly vulnerable to physical, financial, and psychological abuse. An abuser can be a family member, a caregiver, a stranger, an employee, or another individual. Because there’s a high risk of elder abuse, you need to ensure your senior loved one’s safety at all times. Use the following tips to lower your loved one’s risk of experiencing elder abuse.
1. Help Your Loved One Stay Connected
Seniors are much more vulnerable to elder abuse when they’re alone and isolated. Help your loved one spend time with friends, attend community events, and stay involved in religious organizations. Staying socially active can create a valuable support network your loved one can turn to in case anything bad happens. Your loved one may be less likely to fall prey to abuse if he or she doesn’t feel isolated and neglected.
For families living in Huntsville, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
2. Encourage Your Loved One to Control His or Her Own Finances
A lot of elder abuse occurs when another relative or friend begins using the senior’s money for his or her own personal gain. To prevent this type of fraud, it’s best for seniors to remain in control of their finances. If your loved one has issues that prevent him or her from managing finances independently, consult a professional financial or legal advisor. Be cautious with anyone who tries to change your loved one’s will or power of attorney.
3. Check Up on Care Providers
Before you trust anyone else with your loved one’s care, make sure to carefully check that person’s background. You can look on abuse registries, read reviews, and pay for a criminal background check to search for any red flags. Even if a person hasn’t been charged with elder abuse before, any history of violence, neglect, or drug problems could be a major warning sign.
When earching for reliable home care agencies, families want to know their senior loved ones will be well taken care of. At Home Care Assistance, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more.
4. Maintain Your Loved One’s Physical Health
Elder abuse often occurs when a caregiver neglects a senior’s needs. You can reduce your loved one’s reliance on caregivers by encouraging him or her to remain healthy, active, and independent. It’s important for seniors to promptly treat any health issues, maintain a healthy weight, and get plenty of exercise.
5. Talk to Your Loved One Regularly
Frequently chatting with your loved one can help you notice signs of potential abuse. Warn your loved one about scams, and encourage him or her to exercise caution in new friendships and relationships. Maintaining a good relationship with your loved one is essential for preventing elder abuse because seniors may find themselves in abusive situations when they feel like they have no one else to turn to.
Hiring a professional caregiver is one of the best ways to prevent elder abuse and ensure your loved one receives high-quality in-home care. Families shouldn’t have to worry about finding reliable homecare services. Huntsville Home Care Assistance is a leading provider of elderly home care. We offer a proprietary program called the Balanced Care Method, which uses holistic methods to promote senior health, our caregivers and Care Managers are available 24/7, and all of our in-home care services are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. To learn about our premier in-home care options, give us a call at (256) 716-9940 today.