Phoenix Elder Abuse & Neglect Attorneys

Fighting for Arizona's Vulnerable Adults

Many seniors require special care as they age, especially as their mental, physical, and cognitive abilities start to decline. Vulnerable adults often require special care and attention. Elder abuse and/or neglect can be difficult to detect, much less stop from occurring altogether. You can uncover a problem, however, if you keep your eyes peeled for various warning signs of abuse. If you or your loved one is being victimized by abuse or neglect, you may have legal recourse.

Call our Phoenix elder abuse lawyers today at (602) 900-9860 for a private consultation.

What Is the Abuse or Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult?

Abuse is any of the following: (a) Intentional infliction of physical harm; (b) Injury caused by negligent acts or omissions; (c) Unreasonable confinement; or (d) Sexual abuse or sexual assault. Neglect is a pattern of conduct without the person's informed consent resulting in deprivation of food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling, heating, or other services necessary to reasonably maintain physical or mental health.

Elder abuse and neglect may take the following forms:

• Physical abuse: If an elderly adult is subject to bodily harm, it could stem from any number of subtle to violent tactics, such as failure to feed a vulnerable adult, pushing, beating, shoving, dropping, biting, slapping, kicking, etc. The abuse may also take the form of physical restraint or inappropriate distribution of medication.
• Sexual abuse: If an elderly adult does not consent to sexual activity or is unable to consent due to cognitive impairment, it is considered sexual abuse. This may take the form of rape, unwanted touching, coerced nudity, sodomy, or inappropriate photographs.
• Psychological abuse: This occurs when the abuser inflicts distress through verbal or nonverbal means, such as verbal assault, humiliation, threats, intimidation, or harassment that manifests itself in physical symptoms.
• Abandonment: This involves leaving a vulnerable adult to his or her own devices. It may involve deserting the senior in a public place, such as a shopping mall or public park, or by leaving the vulnerable adult in soiled diapers.
• Withholding medication or overmedicating a vulnerable adult.
• Failure to provide proper food, water, or shelter to a vulnerable adult.

What Can I Do if I Suspect Elder Abuse or Neglect?

The thought of someone abusing your senior loved one is certainly horrifying, but you can seek the assistance of a Phoenix elder abuse lawyer to help you through the legal claims process for remedying the wrongdoing, recovering compensation from the abuser, and ensuring the abuser is properly registered on the Adult Protective Services (APS) registry.

At Taylor & Lihn, PLLC, we can be your legal guides and help you determine what your options are for pursuing justice. Our legal team understands this is a delicate subject matter, and you and your family likely feel devastated, embarrassed, or confused about this situation. We understand your frustration and will help you assess your case with a thorough evaluation where we can discuss the facts, your options, and how to proceed.

Contact us online or at (602) 900-9860 to speak with a qualified attorney at our Phoenix office.