Oops Bloggers! In the last Joan’s Journey Post, I had a senior brain blip. I forgot to mention that gardening with one’s grandchildren and family members can be a great pleasure for seniors. Recently, I received a photo of my 3-yr-old grandson Oliver watering the plants and flowers outside his Southern California home. Then it hit me — I can hardly wait to move across country to senior housing near my children and grandchildren. Gardening is only one of the activities we can enjoy together.

As to condo sale progress, I have no news to report — no lookers, no offers, no progress! Regardless, I’m staying focused on my future move to senior housing.

Memorabilia, including cards, letters, post cards, magnets, gifts, and decades of photos tossed into marked and unmarked envelopes or stashed in boxes, have been staring at me for months. Not so hidden in drawers, cabinets and high closet shelves, these items wait to be gathered, gone through and gutted or shamelessly saved.

OMG. This task is too big and too sentimental for me to accomplish alone. How do I discard several boxes of notes, letters and sympathy cards sent to my family after the deaths of my mother and father?

Enter “professional organizers,” service providers who use tested principles and expertise to enhance the lives of clients by helping them organize and learn organizing skills. According to NAPO, the National Association of Professional Organizers, professional organizers assist individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper piles, and their lives! Services include: moving and downsizing, space planning and staging, time and task management, haul-away services and maintenances practices.

In the next Joan’s Journey, I will recount my journey with two organizers from Charm City Organizers, LLC., located in Baltimore, as we de-clutter, discard, sort and save a mountain of memorabilia. Until then, enjoy the journey, day by day.

About the Author

Joan London, a freelance medical and social issues writer, plans to move across country from Baltimore to Southern CA to enjoy life at senior housing and be close to her children and grandchildren.

Yesterday, we announced the official launch of our first-of-its-kind, comprehensive national ratings system for senior living communities. We’ve determined the Winners in our pilot markets, including Seattle, Portland and Phoenix, and identified the Top Rated senior communities in those metro areas.

Our Winners and Top Rated senior communities have been chosen based on ratings from local senior living industry professionals, resident and family reviews, state inspection data and more. Congratulations to all our Winners and Top Rated senior communities!

Seattle Top Rated Senior Communities

Huge congrats to Garden Court Retirement Community, our winner in the Seattle area! For a full list of all the senior communities in Seattle earning the Top Rated distinction, click here. 

Phoenix Top Rated Senior Communities

Big congratulations to Freedom Inn at Sun City West, our winner in the Phoenix metro area! To see all the senior communities earning a Top Rated distinction in Phoenix, click here.

Portland Top Rated Senior Communities

Sending out a big congrats to Markham House, operated by LeisureCare, our winner in the Greater Portland area! For a full list of the senior communities earning the Top Rated distinction in Greater Portland, click here.

Endorse Your Favorite Senior Communities in Western U.S.

In addition to announcing the results for our pilot markets, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve launched the awards program in metros in the Western U.S., including:

• Best Senior Living Communities – Denver
• Best Senior Living Communities – Las Vegas
• Best Senior Living Communities – Los Angeles
• Best Senior Living Communities – Orange County
• Best Senior Living Communities – Inland Empire
• Best Senior Living Communities – Sacramento
• Best Senior Living Communities – San Diego
• Best Senior Living Communities – San Francisco
• Best Senior Living Communities – San Jose

Follow these links to endorse your favorite senior communities today!

We’re Coming to a City Near You!

Will we be coming to a city near you? Throughout the year, we’ll be rolling out our awards program in 50 major metropolitan markets across the U.S. For full details on the Best Senior Living Awards, eligibility criteria, an awards timeline and a complete list of the cities we’ll be covering throughout the year, visit our Program Details and Rules page.

Are you a provider? Even if we haven’t launched in your market yet, you can start taking steps to improve your rating today! Visit http://www.seniorhomes.com/p/improve/ to get started.

Thanks to Our Local Senior Living Experts

Last but certainly not least, many thanks to our top-notch panel of local senior living experts who helped make this happen in Seattle, Portland and Phoenix! If you’d like to be a local expert, email us at awards@seniorhomes.com to find out if you qualify.

We are excited to announce today the launch of the SeniorHomes Rating system.

Our rating system is the first of its kind in the senior living space, providing seniors and their families an objective quality metric to help guide them through decisions. Using a simple 10 point scale, the SeniorHomes Rating provides an assessment of the overall quality of a senior living provider.

Leveraging the opinions of local experts who know the communities near them well, as well as resident and family reviews, and state inspection data, we’ve simplified the process of finding a new home for families by providing them an objective, consistent quality metric.

Today our ratings launched in the Phoenix, Portland and Seattle metropolitan markets. We’ve rated most of the independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities in those locations. If you browse the pages in our directory in these locations, you’ll find ratings published both on search result pages and community profile pages.

Today we also are announcing the details of the national roll out of our rating system. Starting today in the Western US, we’ll be gathering information to create ratings in the Western metropolitan markets and working our way east until, later this year, our rating system will cover most of the senior living communities in the US.

If you’d like to learn more, please visit our ratings overview page.

SeniorHomes.com recently set out to identify the Most Inspiring Seniors through the Best Senior Living Awards. During the awards program, we found many well known inspiring seniors including Betty White, Fauja Singh, and Edythe Kirchmaier. However we also found another senior that doesn’t get the same amount of press as a 91 year old comedian, or the world’s oldest marathon runner. We found Dr. Louisa Littleton.

As the first female resident at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in 1945 and paving the way for women in medicine, Dr. Littleton has been an inspiration to her own local community for decades. Dr. Littleton was nominated by her Sunrise Senior Living community, Brighton Gardens of Charlotte.

Littleton always wanted to be a physician and in 1945-46, she was the lone female in a class of 15 men–clearly a trend-setter in a profession which was largely dominated by men during that time. After finishing the program at CMC, Littleton became the first female pediatrician in Statesville and managed a private practice for more than 30 years.

Now 93, Dr. Littleton’s spirit still lives on to inspire other female doctors. CMC recently created an annual award that bears her name, the “Dr. Louisa Littleton Award”, which is given annually to the female resident who most closely embodies Dr. Littleton’s passion for service.

Dr. Littleton was recently presented with the “Inspiring Senior” award at her community (shown in the photo to the right). Surrounded by friends, neighbors and community staff, Dr. Littleton was made aware of her nomination, her 150 votes, and received a plaque. We’re certain that this won’t be the last of Dr. Littleton’s incredible accomplishments during her lifetime, but we sure are proud to be a part of bringing some much-deserved recognition to a woman who will continue to inspire women in the field of medicine, and seniors everywhere, for decades to come.

To read more about Dr. Littleton, visit her nominee page here.

To learn more about Dr. Littleton, watch an interview here.

Dementia Care as the “Long Hello”:  An Interview with Martha Stettinius, author of the book “Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir”

Martha Stettinius, sandwich generation caregiver and author of the critically-acclaimed book “Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir,” cared for her mother over eight years at home, in assisted living, a rehab center, a “memory care” facility, and a nursing home.  In this interview she explains why she calls her caregiving journey not a “long good-bye,” as Alzheimer’s caregiving is often called, but a “long hello.” An unflinching and hopeful story that is hard to put down, “Inside the Dementia Epidemic” is also a well-researched and vivid overview of the challenges of Alzheimer’s care.

Read our interview with Martha:

Martha Stettinius, sandwich generation caregiver and author of the acclaimed book “Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir,” cared for her mother over eight years at home, in assisted living, a rehab center, a “memory care” facility, and a nursing home.  In this interview she explains why she calls her caregiving journey not a “long good-bye,” as Alzheimer’s caregiving is often called, but a “long hello.” An unflinching and hopeful story that is hard to put down, “Inside the Dementia Epidemic” is also a well-researched and vivid overview of the challenges of Alzheimer’s care.

An advocate for the needs of family caregivers, Martha serves as a volunteer representative for New York State for the Caregiver Action Network (formerly the National Family Caregivers Association) and as an expert in dementia care for the website eCareDiary. She works as an editor, and earned a master’s in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Martha blogs about person-centered dementia care, has an active Facebook page for family caregivers, and tweets. “Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir” is available through all major online book retailers as a paperback and e-book.

Q. As a busy sandwich-generation caregiver with your mom, two children, a husband and a job, why did you start writing your book?

In the spring of 2005, I realized that my mother, Judy, who was 72 at the time, could no longer take care of herself in her remote lakeside home where she’d lived alone for 25 years. She could not balance her checkbook, she had stopped cleaning and cooking, and she’d lost a lot of weight. In the winter she was in danger of falling on the steep gravel road that led up the cliff to where she parked her car. I convinced her to move into my home with my family an hour away.

I started writing in stolen moments to deal with the stress of suddenly becoming her caregiver. Like many caregivers, I felt so much guilt and confusion. I wanted to reassure myself that I was making good decisions about my mother’s care, and that, despite our challenging history together, I was being a good daughter. When Mom moved into assisted living in the summer of 2005, I would continue to write sporadically after my visits with her, as a way to clear my head, but I did not commit myself to writing about caregiving on a regular basis for another two years. I decided then that my story might help others, and that it would be worth sharing.

Q. How is your book different from other memoirs about dementia caregiving?

I believe that we are in the midst of a shift in the way that people with dementia are perceived. No longer are they always seen as “empty shells” or “gone.” A few years ago, dementia was commonly described as a tragic wasting away and a long, painful good-bye—indeed, as the complete erasure of the person who once was. My scenes, however, show my mother as “still Judy,” as still herself despite living with dementia—an unusual perspective in memoirs by adult children caring for their aging parents. Most dementia memoirs still paint the disease as unceasing bleak, but my story shows that there can be many moments of joy and pleasure if the person is treated as a whole human being.

Q. How did you come to believe that your mother was still “in there” despite having dementia?

In my early caregiving years I believed everything I had heard about Alzheimer’s disease—that my mother would turn into a different person, that she would be a “patient,” not a person. I also thought of caregiving as just another responsibility to add to my busy day, and my time with my mother as duty, not pleasure.

I was fortunate to live next door to a woman who leads workshops on person-centered care for an international organization (The Eden Alternative^®). I also attended gerontology conferences where experts spoke about person-centered dementia care, and I read books on the subject. After Mom moved into assisted living, I tried to practice what I learned.

Even if a person cannot speak, as in late dementia, they often express their feelings and needs in other ways—through their eyes, their facial expression, and their body language. When talking to Mom, I found that if I paid close enough attention, I would almost always see a reaction—a raised eyebrow, a twinkle in her eye, a furrowed brow, a puff of a laugh through her nose like a tiny set of bellows. I tried to slow down enough to just “be” with her. Through the final stages of dementia, Mom enjoyed simple pleasures such as sitting with me outdoors or listening to music, holding my hand. Though she passed away at age 80 in December, I will always feel grateful for my time with her.

In the latest installment in our Judge Spotlight series, we are excited and honored to be among the first to introduce you to recognized eldercare expert and author Bart Astor’s latest book, “AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life: Smart Choices about Money, Health, Work, Lifestyle, and Pursuing Your Dreams.”

At this point in our lives there are no more “shoulds.” Although many of us are caring for our parents as they are aging, they don’t have the same influence on our choices as they did when we were under their roofs. Maybe it would be a good thing if they did have that influence—perhaps their wisdom and experience would help us. But presumably we’re all a bit older and wiser now, so we determine our own “shoulds.” We’ve made our choices, and we’ve lived with them for many years. We’ve accepted that they were, in fact, our choices. We chose whether to have a family, where to settle, what kind of work to do, and what would occupy our time when we weren’t otherwise overwhelmed with work and family commitments. We probably set goals for ourselves, and those goalposts may have shifted more than once. We saw others around us whom we admired and we tried on what we saw in them. If those characteristics fit us we took them on as ours. They became our role models. That’s not any different than what our parents and their parents before them did.

But life was different for them. Their lives—at least from my perspective—seemed more predetermined. My mother didn’t have the same options my granddaughter has. Even as my wife was growing up she was expected to be a teacher or a nurse, if she worked at all.

As our society changed, we found that we had more freedom. And with that increased freedom came uncertainty. With fewer role models and with changing goals, we stumbled on our way as best we could. So it is with our next chapters in life. Who’s in front of us? Who’s clearing our paths?

We prepare for this second adulthood, I think, by doing what can to avoid being a victim. Sure, sometimes life brings the unexpected—illness, injury, or lottery winnings. But more often than not we see the ball coming at us right off the bat. As it heads our way we generally don’t have time enough to consider all of the options. We needed to have thought about them before the ball was pitched: What if the ball is hit to me? Where do I throw it? Who’s on base? How fast is the runner?

Then I let my muscle memory take over as I scoop up the grounder and throw it to second base to start the double play. If I bobble it, that’s an error. Errors happen; we do the best we can. If I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with the ball when it comes to me, that’s more than an error. That was preventable. That’s me letting down my whole team. My teammates and I then are victims because of my lack of preparation.

Each of our roads on this journey is unique. Some are winding, some straighter. Some have too many bumps, whereas the lucky ones among us have just enough bumps to learn from. A roadmap provides direction—an aid to help you navigate. Preparation and planning, as you approach your second adulthood, helps you think about your options before the ball reaches you.

Bart Astor (www.BartAstor.com) is a recognized expert in life’s transitions and eldercare. He focuses on preparing for second adulthood in his new book, AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life: Smart Choices about Money, Health, Work, Lifestyle, and Pursuing Your Dreams available April, 2013. His unexpected personal journey led him to write his best-selling book, Baby Boomer’s Guide to Caring for Aging Parents, now in its second printing and critically regarded for being today’s must-have healthcare resource. Bart has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” PBS’s “MarketPlace,” and Ric Edelman’s “The Truth About Money.” His perspective comes from personal experience, both good and bad, and sometimes that’s what matters most.

Bart has written eleven other books, numerous articles, testimony, grant proposals, training and technical manuals, white papers, and website content on a variety of subjects including eldercare, student financial aid, college admission, insurance, buying a home, and corporate social responsibility. He was also the publisher and founder of the College Planning Quarterly.

Bart can be contacted at Bart@BartAstor.com

This is the first in a series of spotlights highlighting our 2013 Best Senior Living Awards expert judges. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to find out about our spotlights as they go live and learn more about our panel of prestigious senior living experts and how they serve the senior living community!

SageMinder.Com is an award-winning website for family caregivers.  Users find articles, tips, forms to download, community forums, blog, and even guided relaxation meditations on our site.  SageMinder also offers some new technologies to assist the family caregiver and the senior at home.

Care Calls

SageMinder is the home of the patented SageMinder Senior Care Call System.  SageMinder Care Calls provide reliable daily medication reminders and/or check in calls automatically and notify a family caregiver immediately of the call’s outcome.  These interactive calls make it possible for a caregiver to know what is going on through the day even if they cannot be there at that moment due to work or other family obligations.  Care Calls offer peace of mind and a regular routine for the safety and assurance of elderly people at home.

MySage Online Portal

Caregivers are notoriously busy and often juggling multiple roles.  That is why SageMinder has also introduced these new MySage online caregiver tools to help families with all their daily tasks:

• Online Calendar with Free Text Message Alerts

SageMinder Calendar lets a user schedule recurring appointments, activities, or other tasks into a calendar and send email and/or text messages at pre-programmed times for reminding anyone in the family.  This is a free service.

• Family Care Center

The Family Care Center (FCC) is a private social network for just the family and close friends of an elderly loved one.  Set up by a family caregiver, this portal can help the care team coordinate tasks, communicate privately about health updates, and share ideas, photos, events, and more.

• TrackIt

TrackIts utilize the same patented scheduling and reminding system to help anyone remember to log progress toward health, exercise and fitness goals.  You program in the goals and the TrackIt system will remind you to log your activities.

These services and the caregiver website are all designed to empower the family caregiver with the tools, information, and ideas to succeed at this most honorable job of caring for another person.  For more information, go to www.sageminder.com.

Lori Paterno, M.Ed. has a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Penn State University.  She has over 25 years experience in human services, counseling, and education.

These days, “home security” is a rather holistic term. Not only do we want to keep an eye on our house while we’re gone, we also want to set the lights, turn up the thermostat, and make sure the sprinklers are firing properly. Some precautions can even seem unnecessary and are easy to let fall by the wayside. The amount of technology involved in securing one’s home can seem daunting at times and can make one wonder if a home security system is even necessary, especially if a resident has gotten along fine without one.

Image by ScottMan2th on DeviantArt

The truth of the matter is, as you age, having a proper security system or precautions set in place becomes more necessary for a variety of reasons. In fact, the Bureau of Justice reports have shown that the elderly have become more frequently targeted for home invasions or burglaries.

The following five safety tips are specifically for the elderly but can act as a jumping-off point to provide yourself the perfect level of protection no matter what stage in life you are.

Tip #1

The majority of seniors lack the mobility and dexterity of a typical burglar and may not be physically strong enough to fend off an attacker. This is why a fence surrounding the senior’s property would be ideal. But be careful, some security fences can also hide an intruder once they’ve breached the property. Bump your protection up a notch by having motion-activated lights installed along the fence; in addition to scaring away possible intruders, the light can help warn seniors, giving them time to call the authorities.

Tip #2

Most elderly, when compared to younger home invasion victims, are home at the time of the crime. However, just because they are at home does not mean they are constantly keeping an eye on every inch of their property. This is where third party monitoring comes in handy. A team of trained professionals can keep an eye on your property 24/7 and alert the authorities if a threat is detected.

Tip#3

Sadly, most burglars will walk right in unlocked front doors if they knock and there’s no answer, which can be a scary thing when you consider most seniors live alone and may take a minute or two to get to the front door. Always make sure to install deadbolt locks on every door that leads from the inside of the house out.  Step it up a notch when choosing your lock, making sure to purchase a vertical deadbolt. For the consideration of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s or arthritis, an electronic door lock may be the perfect solution.

Tip #4

This next tip serves a dual purpose and it involves proper lighting. Not only does an automated lighting system help seniors travel safely from room to room in the dark of night by automatically lighting the way, automated lights can be set on timers to deter thieves when the resident is away visiting family or simply out for the day.

Tip #5

Some seniors may be living on a budget or lack the know-how to install a complicated home security system, but there are still options for those who are either not technologically savvy or who just have a tight budget. By purchasing a home security sign and stickers for your yard and windows, you can make it look like you have a fancy security system and scare off possible burglars for a little less than twenty dollars. Seventy-five percent of burglars and intruders will not attempt a break-in if they see these signs in a yard or window.

Now that you know how and where to start with your home security system, don’t be a victim! Getting a safer and more secure home really is a lot easier than you thought no matter how old or young you are.

Rachel Green is a freelance writer and independent researcher for securitychoice.com. Her fortes include personal security and mobile technologies and she shares her insights on various mobile technology and home security blogs.

Welcome Joan’s Journeyers! My cousin Steve, an animal “whisperer” of sorts,  visited Baltimore recently, and we discussed my upcoming move to senior housing  in Southern CA.

I explained my diligent research with SeniorHomes.com to locate appropriate senior housing. I described my copious efforts to sell my condo, and my attempts to downsize and move with as little stress as possible. Steve then surprised me with two questions:

• How are you preparing Mia for travel?
• Are you getting her ready for the trip across country to a new way of life?”

I looked at him and blinked. Prepare Mia, my precious, beautiful Russian Blue
6-year-old rescue cat? What was Steve talking about?

In summary, Steve, from Orange County, CA, works with, loves, and “whispers” to dogs, cats and horses. He offered these suggestions:

1. Research “airline approved,” pet carriers that fit under the plane seat.
2. Purchase the carrier now. Place it in a location where Mia becomes familiar with it.
3. Place Mia in the carrier and take her on car rides with the carrier top and sides zipped shut.
4. Buy a small litter box and put it on the car floor. Shut and lock the car doors. Safely let Mia out of the carrier to explore the car and find the litter box. This way, on long trips, Mia will be familiar with the car and trained for kitty pit stops and stretches.
5. Schedule Mia’s yearly medical exams and vaccinations before moving. Discuss car and air travel wellness and safety with our vet.
6. Mia has an implanted identity chip in case she is lost. An added safety feature is to teach her to wear a cat harness.

As soon as I heard Steve’s suggestions, I knew I had to begin Mia’s move preparations. I’ll ask the vet to examine and approve the new pet carrier I bought online. The carrier marketing instructions says “airline approved” to fit under the plane seat. The carrier itself seems sturdy, yet lightweight and comfortable. The handles are placed to use with safety belts. A real plus are the wheels and strap that allow the carrier to be pulled like luggage, handheld or carried over one’s shoulder. There is a pocket for cat supplies. The carrier instructions remind the user to insert completed address labels on the carrier.

Hopefully, with advance preparation, Mia will be a confident, happy journeyer. If you have traveled with your pet, please share your experiences and comments below.  For specific details about Mia’s new carrier, please email: joan@seniorhomes.com

As for a specific “move” date to senior housing — we must wait for a condo buyer or  mortgage company Deed in Lieu (DIL). Meanwhile journeyers, until the next post, enjoy every day of your journey.

Byline:

Joan London is a freelance writer who specializes in senior and medical topics. London, who currently lives in Baltimore with her rescue cat Mia, plans to relocate to senior housing in Southern California in order to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

This is a guest article contributed by Forest Healthcare; who specialize in care homes, nursing homes and residential homes for the elderly.

Today’s seniors are more active and independent than ever before.  In many cases, the rocking chair stereotype of the elderly no longer holds true.  Yet in spite of many seniors’ active lifestyles, the elderly population continues to be a target of exploitation.  Some types of exploitation may seem relatively harmless, such as products making false claims to encourage impulse buys.  Other types of exploitation are much more serious, and elder abuse could be life threatening to the victims, especially if they are physically frail or suffering from dementia.  Here are some of the tragic ways the senior population has been exploited in recent years.

1. False advertising in beauty products

The old adage that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” could be applied to the beauty industry.  The cosmetics industry has long been purveyors of impossible standards of eternal youth and beauty, but in recent years the public has discovered that advertising images are routinely manipulated through digital enhancement or air brushing to attain a model’s more perfect appearance.  Concerned about false advertising, the British Advertising Standards Authority took action by banning ads featuring movie stars such as Julia Roberts and supermodels such as Christy Turlington.  The companies in question included Maybelline, Lancome, and L’Oreal.

In the United States, Lancôme received a warning letter from the Federal Drug Administration regarding its wrinkle creams, which are consistently marketed as drugs, making scientific claims that the products reduce wrinkles without having undergone the FDA’s rigorous process of approval. Avon and Clarins have also been criticized for false advertising of wrinkle creams.

 2. Deceptive advertising in health products

Who wouldn’t want to drink their way to perfect health?  Consumers hoping for a fountain of youth in liquid form were let down when it came to the product Ensure.  The nutritional beverage was marketed in the United States as doctor recommended as an effective meal replacement and supplement without proper scientific evidence to back up the claims.  Abbott Laboratories, which manufactures the drink, reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Similarly, POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice was marketed as having measurable benefits for the treatment or prevention of heart disease, prostate cancer, and more.  FTC Commissioners upheld a judge’s decision that the company engaged in false advertising.  These are only a few of the countless supplements, vitamins, health and energy drinks and health foods that prey on the senior consumer’s desire for perfect health by promising too much.  Buyer, beware.

3. Financial exploitation of the elderly

Deceptive advertising is not limited to food and beauty products.  It has also been used to defraud seniors out of millions.  Predatory lenders prey on seniors looking to save money and maximize their limited retirement income. Upstate Capital, Inc., in the United States was a reverse mortgage lender that marketed itself as a non-profit organization called Association for Better Living (ABL), Inc.  The company flyers and other promotional materials appeared official and stated that ABL would help seniors get a tax-free income through a new government program.  The company reached a settlement with the Attorney General’s Office of New York.

Financial exploitation of the elderly is not limited to unscrupulous businesses and con artists.  It may also strike closer to home and be perpetrated by someone who is well known to the senior, such as a caregiver or relative.  The elderly living alone independently are particularly susceptible to this type of exploitation, while those dependent upon others for care can fall victim to financial fraud combined with other forms of abuse.

To the family’s surprise, a stranger can befriend the senior, then win her trust and the right to access her bank account.  Families hiring caregivers for their loved ones are advised to conduct a thorough background check.  However, a family member, even a grown child or spouse, can also take advantage of an elder’s finances.  If financial exploitation of the elder is suspected, then examine bank statements and check signatures for unusual activity.  Bills going unpaid can also be a sign that the person in charge of the senior’s finances is mismanaging them and using them for personal gain.  Such individuals have even gained power of attorney by threatening the senior, withholding care, and sometimes without the senior fully understanding the consequences.

4. Neglect of the elderly

A rarely discussed form of senior abuse is neglect, the failure by the caregiver to provide the senior with basic necessities.  As a result the senior goes without food, medical attention, clean clothing, shelter, and other basic needs for his wellbeing, health, and protection.

Such was the case at the Parkside House in Northampton, when five residents of the nursing home passed away within two weeks of one another as a consequence of severe neglect in October 2010.  The Care Quality Commission labeled conditions at the nursing home “appalling” after conducting an investigation.  The facility was unable to meet even the most basic needs of its residents.  The CQC canceled the home’s registration.  Authorities were alerted to the situation at Parkside when a resident was admitted to the hospital with severe bedsores, dehydration, and unresponsiveness.

Other red flags indicating a lack of care could include poor hygiene, uncombed hair, and malnutrition.  Abusive caregivers can also purposely deny seniors their basic needs in order to isolate or manipulate them, as was the case with one caregiver at Oakfoss House residential care home in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

5. Verbal and emotional abuse of seniors

Abusive caregivers can subject the seniors in their care to verbal abuse, causing mental anguish that can be just as distressing as physical abuse.  Such caregivers resort to intimidation and humiliation tactics to extort money or to exert power over the victim.

In 2011, Ivy Robinson’s daughter discovered that her mother’s caregiver Emma Bryan at Oakfoss House was subjecting her mother to brutal mental and physical abuse.  A hidden camera revealed that Bryan insulted Ivy Robinson, bullied her, denied her medication, shook her, and dragged her across the floor.  Bryan also ignored Ivy’s pleas for help.

Red flags for such treatment may include unusually withdrawn and frightened behavior in the elder, isolation, and a fear of speaking freely for fear of repercussions.

6. Violence against the elderly

Ivy’s daughter began to suspect abuse when she noticed bruises on her mother’s hands and her agitated behavior. In addition to the physical signs, a victim’s reluctance to be left alone with a caregiver, or a caregiver’s refusal to allow visitors to have private time with the senior, may be indications that verbal or physical abuse could be a problem.

All too often, violence against the elderly is perpetrated by someone they trust.  Such was the case of Joann Hornberger of Detroit, Michigan, when she was terrorized for 12 hours by her boarder, whom she had known for four years.  The boarder abused alcohol and in his altered state beat her and attempted to kill her.  Indeed, caregivers can become abusive if they are suffering from addiction problems, depend on the victim financially, or are simply unprepared for the stress of caring for a handicapped elderly person.  The victim’s own children or spouse can even perpetuate such crimes.

 7. Sexual abuse of the elderly

Sexual abuse occurs when the senior is forced into non-consensual sexual activity.  It is the least discussed variety of elder abuse and one of the most difficult to identify.  John Tiplady, owner of a nursing home in Yorkshire, was an upstanding member of the community who had even been recognized with awards.  It was later revealed that he was abusing his residents.  The patients in his care were severely disabled, and therefore were unable to report the abuse, which was eventually verified by a staff member.  All allegations by potential victims should be investigated.