Elder abuse in Las Vegas, and elsewhere in America, has become a very serious problem. Even with many reforms in response to this epidemic, there is still so much to be done. Individuals who choose to bring legal proceedings against nursing homes can not only win back elder abuse costs like healthcare and funeral expenses (in cases where the elder has died as a result of such abuse), but they can also bring attention to this increasingly prevalent issue.

Elder abuse in Las Vegas, Nevada is defined as the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of an elderly person, especially those who are weak, frail, and unable to defend themselves or communicate their abuse. Physical abuse is the intractable infliction of physical pain and/or injury, while sexual abuse is the deliberate force of non-consensual sexual contact of any kind. Emotional or psychological abuse is the deliberate infliction of mental or emotional distress through sadistic practices of humiliation, intimidation, and/or threats to life and limb. Under this broad umbrella of the types of elder abuse in Las Vegas, lie the definitions of exploitation and neglect.

Financial or material exploitation is the non-consensual act of using the resources of an older person for another's benefit, and neglect is the failure of a caretaker to provide necessary care leading to physical harm, mental torment or illness, using techniques such as abandonment, denial of food or health related services and withholding much needed medications. Elder abuse is often thought to be perpetrated by careless staff in nursing home facilities, but can just as easily be perpetrated by family members. In these cases, it often takes the form of financial abuse, emotional abuse, or physical neglect.

Elder abuse in Las Vegas and in all other states is a mandated report crime, as is the case with child abuse. This means that all health and social service professionals are mandated by law to report any suspicions of elder abuse or neglect to the police or a national help line without the threat of legal recourse against them. Interestingly enough, elder abuse in Las Vegas is not only a problem in nursing facilities and most often occurs in the homes of the elderly where they are abused by family members who may be overwhelmed, abusive by nature, or may have monetary motivation for abusing their relative. It may be difficult to detect elder abuse at first, because the initial symptoms may be confused with those of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. No one should ever dismiss the complaints or emotional distress of an elderly person under another’s care. One sign to look out for is frequent arguments and uncomfortable situations between the caregiver and the elderly person. Another sign is the drastic change in the personality and behavior of the elder such as exhibiting disinterest in activities that were enjoyed before. There may, of course, be medical reasons for personality changes, such as a change in medication or the progression of Alzheimer's disease, but these may also be symptoms of abuse.

Elder abuse in Las Vegas should not be treated as just another crime. Everyone should be involved in protecting themselves, their families, and their friends from being victimized. There are many resources available all over the state of Nevada that are useful in reporting, preventing, and recognizing elder abuse. There are also financial and legal professionals who focus primarily on elder law, including banking services that will allow you to customize your future to keep you from being victimized. Programs are also available to caregiver who may be overwhelmed, financially unable to care for their loved ones, and resources for finding respectable nursing facilities.

If you have witnessed elder abuse, contact our Las Vegas elder abuse lawyers for help with your case without delay. The experienced attorneys in our Nevada office can help you—call today.