Elder Abuse Shockers
We were all shocked by the latest images of Peter Mazza, a 99-year-old Staten Island man who was fatally abused and neglected by his caregivers. Even Mickey Rooney testified before Congress about being a victim of elder abuse and mistreatment in the form of financial abuse. Unfortunately, elder abuse is a growing problem that we all must be vigilant for.
As we become senior citizens, we have to contend with becoming more and more dependent on those around us. As such, it is even more important to make sure that these people are worthy of our trust.
According to the NYS Elder Abuse Prevalence Study of May 2011, Elder Abuse can take the form of: (1) Neglect by a responsible caregiver (2) Financial exploitation (3) Emotional abuse (4) Physical abuse (including sexual).
Fighting Elder Abuse
Tracking and combating elder abuse is difficult due to a lack of centralized ownership of these cases. Unfortunately, they are referred out to disparate departments such as housing, law enforcement or fraud. There has been a call to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a resource center for elder abuse information. As a result, Elder Abuse Victims Acts have been introduced in Congress to dedicate more resources and improve response to these unfortunate events.
At David York Home Healthcare Agency, we are always on the lookout for our clients. Our home health aides are thoroughly interviewed and rigorously screened including a criminal background check. Moreover, our aides participate in ongoing in-service classes to keep them abreast of the latest trends and things to watch for. We are in constant contact with them. Furthermore, we stress that they must report any concerns they have about their clients to us. Additionally, we are available 24 hours a day to the client, their family and the aides for emergencies and any problem that arises.
David York Agency provides skilled home health aide services for home healthcare. Please call us at (718) 376-7755 and we would be happy to discuss your case with you. Visit our website at www.davidyorkagency.com or like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
