Elder Abuse is not a new phenomenon, but it has only recently become recognized in the law as something worthy of legislative protection. This problem takes on importance now because the size of the elder population (the “victim pool”) is becoming exponentially large as the “baby boom” generation reaches older age.

It is all too easy to carry out because no one else is watching in most cases and the victims often cannot recognize the abuse or protect themselves from it. This is a tragedy of increasing proportions. The victims are both elderly and disabled individuals.

It occurs when that trusted relationship ceases to function. This happens overtly when someone is trying to take advantage of you by physical harm or neglect, by stealing, etc. In many cases, it begins subtly when an agent, employee or caregiver keeps the change from a shopping errand or a son or daughter pays one of their personal obligations from your checkbook. In virtually all cases, once it starts it escalates inevitably and you suffer increasingly as a result.

Protect Yourself: It is important to you and your family to be vigilant so that any hint of abuse is discovered as early as possible when the amount of harm is less severe as it will become if continued. Often the abuser tries to isolate you from family and friends so the abuse is not apparent. This is particularly true in the case of financial abuse. However, your family and friends are your best allies and most able to intervene on your behalf.

If you can counteract such isolation by having family or friends visit you regularly so that you have persons with your best interests at heart to be in a position to detect or witness any physical abuse or neglect. Financial abuse is more difficult to safeguard against unless you can successfully insist that your financial agent or trustee must allow a third party to "audit" your financial records frequently.

These are a few of the strategies you can employ to protect yourself and your resources during this period of vulnerability. More of ten, however, the abuse goes unnoticed because there is no neutral third party available to check on things.