According to a report by the AARP, financial exploitation of the elderly has been rising across the Unites States, with at least $2.9 billion lost to financial exploitation in 2010 according to one study. The fact is, because financial abuse of the elderly is believed to be significantly under-reported, there is no real way to know how much money is lost every year. Officials from the Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will be working together under a $5.5 million grant from the Affordable Care Act to create a federal elder justice coordination team, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. This is the first time that the federal government has made a real coordinated effort to focus on financial exploitation of the elderly.
Are you concerned that a caregiver or other person is exploiting the finances of an elder family member? Speak with a dedicated Denver elder abuse attorney immediately to protect your loved ones.
It is believed that one of the main reasons that the elderly are such frequent victims of various fraud and swindling schemes is that as people age, in many cases they begin to struggle with mental comprehension. The fact that they sometimes have trouble understanding what is happening makes the elderly a target. There are things that you can do to try to protect your elderly family members and friends. In many cases, people are self-conscious about their aging, and don’t want to share financial information in the interest of retaining independence. Even in this case, by spending time with your family members and talking with them often about everything, you can try to ensure that they feel comfortable talking about things that concern them. Additionally, this will make it easier for you to keep tabs on who they are spending time with, and whether someone may be fostering a relationship that might have bad intentions.
If you believe that someone is taking advantage of your elder loved one, contact a dedicated Denver financial exploitation lawyer immediately. Rhett Meyer has helped countless Colorado families to protect their loved ones from financial abuse. With years of experience as a Denver elder abuse attorney, and the resources to investigate your suspicions, Rhett may be able to help you protect your family. In many cases, people who are being exploited tell no one even if they realize it, because they are embarrassed or afraid of losing independence. By asking Rhett to look into their situation, you may be not only protecting your loved one, but others in the future as well. For more informatin and a FREE CONSULTATION contact Rhett today at The Meyer Law Firm at (303)444-1618.