Elder Abuse and Neglect Can be Curbed Through Increased Awareness, Identification

    CANTON, OH, July 12, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The irony is almost palpable - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day came and went, neglected by most national and local media outlets, even as the ranks of seniors are expected to grow to 19% of the U.S. population by 2030.

With seniors making up 13% of the U.S. population today, elder abuse and neglect is still one of the most unrecognized and under-reported forms of abuse, according to Canton-based registered nurse attorney Angela T. Vagotis.

"The sad thing is that more awareness would make such a difference in the lives of elder abuse victims," she said. "Early identification and intervention can not only significantly improve a victim's quality of life but can also prevent a victim's needless and untimely death."

Despite the lack of national awareness, Vagotis noted that effective strides are being made by grassroots organizations, such as the Stark Multidisciplinary Advocacy Protective Resources Team. The organization is made up of local attorneys as well as representatives of Stark County's probate court, law enforcement, the prosecutor's office and Adult Protective Services.

The group recently held its third annual event to create more awareness of elder abuse, a seminar titled "Justice for All -- Protecting the Elderly and Disabled: The Gray Zone of Incompetency and Incapacity."

The complicated issue of determining a senior's competency and the level of abuse or neglect is a major gray area, Vagotis said. But people need to step in and have the difficult conversations needed to ensure that their older relatives, friends and neighbors aren't being abused.

"You need to be comfortable being uncomfortable," she said, quoting one of the closing statements from the seminar.

Vagotis listed some of the warning signs of elder abuse:

- Lack of affordable comforts in a senior's home
- Senior's needs not being met by a caregiver who has control of the person's money
- Inadequately explained fractures, cuts, sores or other injuries
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
- A cluttered, dirty home or one in disrepair

Concerned family members and friends also can take steps to help prevent abuse in the first place, Vagotis said, simply by visiting regular with seniors or providing a few hours of respite for a caregiver.

"If elder abuse or neglect is suspected, the person should report the situation to authorities," she said. "It's never too late to make a difference in someone's life."

Based in Canton, Ohio, Angela T. Vagotis is a registered nurse attorney, specializing in cases involving nursing home neglect and abuse. Call 330-456-4122 to learn more about how her years of nursing experience combine with her extensive legal expertise to create a unique perspective for her work.

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