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Many Elders Suffer Abuse from Forced Guardianship

Posted on October 24, 2017 in

Many Elders Suffer Abuse from Forced Guardianship | ArizonaThe “golden” years are often glamorized, leading many to picture a sunny spot in Arizona where the months fly by as men and women enjoy their well-earned retirement. Yet, many men and women in their late 60s and older are more vulnerable than you may realize. Aging adults have lived independent lives for decades, but it doesn’t take much to lose that freedom. Many elders are just one fall or one forgetful moment away from losing everything.

The New Yorker Magazine recently published a well-researched article on forced guardianship on elderly men and women who are fully functioning (though they may forget things here and there—which can happen at any age) adults that have amassed wealth throughout their lives. Those who don’t have any living family members or who are estranged from loved ones are at the hands of legal “guardians” who can sell their belongings, seize their finances, and place them in a nursing home “for their own good.”

Guardianship is necessary when someone at any age doesn’t have the mental or physical capacity to care for themselves, and their surviving family members are unable to care for them. In some instances, this is necessary, but as the New Yorker article notes, wealthy elders—even those with loving children—have been taken advantage of in order for court-appointed guardians to make money.

Our elder abuse attorneys at the Jensen & Phelan Law Firm in Prescott Valley have fought on behalf of aging persons who have been abused or neglected by their guardians, loved ones, or by nursing home caretakers. We know how devastating and deadly these situations can become and are ready to fight for victims of physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse.

If you suspect your loved one is being abused, neglected, or victimized by their caretakers, please contact our nursing home abuse lawyers in Northern Arizona today at 928-778-2660 for a free case evaluation. The Jensen & Phelan Law Firm serves clients in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, and nearby areas.