Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day celebrated earlier this month, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Aging, John Michael Hall, encouraged residents who suspect abuse of older adults to call the state’s elder abuse hotline at 1-800-490-8505.
In a press release issued on June 15, Secretary Hall said, “Our older residents deserve protection from abuse. Whether they are the target of financial exploitation by a stranger, physical abuse by a neighbor, neglect by a relative or the object of some other form of abuse, the commonwealth is prepared to intervene. But we need the help of responsible Pennsylvanians to let us know when they see abuse happening.”
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was created to call attention to the problem of abuse, including abandonment, physical and emotional harm, and sexual and financial exploitation, as well as to promote prevention. According the press release, the number-one reported and substantiated type of elder abuse in Pennsylvania is self-neglect followed by caregiver neglect and financial exploitation. Approximately 14,000 reports of abuse of older residents are received each year in the commonwealth.
The elders in our community deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. But unfortunately, not everyone agrees with that statement. It’s our duty to keep an eye out for our older residents, not only those still living in their homes, but also those living in skilled nursing facilities. If you suspect a loved one in a nursing home is not receiving adequate treatment, contact the nursing home abuse lawyers at O’Connor Law. We’ll provide a free review of your case.