Elder abuse is a growing problem in the United States – and one that potentially impacts all of us. One of the biggest obstacles to prosecuting perpetrators of elder abuse is the simple fact that the majority of victims do not report the abuse. Efforts have been made to encourage health care workers to be on the lookout for signs of elder abuse and report their suspicions to the appropriate authorities, similar to the reporting requirements for suspected child abuse cases. Unfortunately, however, recently published reports confirm that health workers are failing to report suspected elder abuse. The research, conducted [Read more…]

If you find yourself facing an Alzheimer’s diagnosis it can be very easy to feel as though you have lost control of your future. Sometimes, focusing on the steps that need to be taken in the aftermath of a diagnosis can provide you with a focus and may help you feel like you are doing something to take back that lost control. With that in mind, the Lincolnshire elder law attorneys at Hedeker Law, Ltd. discuss some steps you should take after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), Alzheimer’s disease is [Read more…]

In light of the recent devastating floods throughout the Midwest, government agencies and other senior advocates are warning the elderly to be on the lookout for scam artists and others who profit off of the misery of others. When the floodwaters recede, authorities expect the predators to come out in droves. If you are a senior, or you have a senior loved one, you must be vigilant about checking identities and references of anyone claiming to offer assistance or offering to do repairs to your home or property. Sadly, after a natural disaster such as the recent floods, home-repair swindlers [Read more…]

We all know that our elderly parents, and other loved ones, are nearing the end of their lives. We do the best we can to prepare for their passing, whether as a result of illness or old age; however, we don’t usually even consider the possibility that the cause of death will be suicide. The truth though, is that senior suicide rates are high, according to a recent news article. How Serious Is the Senior Suicide Problem? According to a recent article in Today’s Geriatric Medicine, in 2005, the most recent year for which statistics are available, there were 5,404 [Read more…]

If you are getting close to retirement age, you have a number of important decisions you will need to make in the near future if you have not yet made them. Will you relocate to a new state or even country when you retire or remain where you are? Should you downsize or buy your dream house for your “Golden Years?” Is now the time to cash in on long-term investments or should you hold onto them for a while longer? One of the most important of these decisions, however, is whether you should delay your Social security retirement benefits. [Read more…]

Even if you are not old enough to actually remember the first moon landing, you have undoubtedly heard about it, which means you know the name Buzz Aldrin. Aldrin was a member of the Apollo 11 crew that landed the first two humans on the moon, joining Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface in July 1969. Now, at the age of 88, he has filed a lawsuit against his own children claiming, among other things, that they are misusing his finances.  Celebrity stories such as Aldrin’s lawsuit serve as a wake-up call for anyone who has yet to include incapacity [Read more…]

As you may already know, the number of older Americans (defined as age 65 and older) has been increasing at a heretofore unseen pace in recent years. In fact, experts tell us that the number of Americans is projected to more than double from 46 million today to over 98 million by 2060, and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population will rise to nearly 24 percent from 15 percent. For the first time in recorded history, the older population in the U.S. will outnumber its younger counterpart (those age 21 and younger). The increase in older Americans [Read more…]

Sadly, seniors often make excellent victims for unscrupulous scam artists. To help protect our nation’s seniors, the United States Department of Justice has published a report entitled “Fighting Fraud – Senate Aging Committee Identified Top 10 Scams Targeting Our Nation’s Senior’s.” Below are summaries of those ten scams. IRS Impersonation Scam –While there are multiple variations of the IRS impersonation scam, criminals generally accuse victims of owing back taxes and penalties. They then threaten retaliation, such as home foreclosure, arrest, and in some cases, deportation, if immediate payment is not made by a certified check, credit card, electronic wire transfer, [Read more…]

As the population of older Americans continues to grow at a historic rate, issues that impact the elderly are now taking center stage in the American conscious. One of the most worrisome of those issues is the Alzheimer’s crisis. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease appears to be increasing right along with the increase in seniors in America. Whether you are nearing your “Golden Years” yourself, or you have a loved one who is, you undoubtedly want to know the latest on the Alzheimer’s crisis in America. What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), Alzheimer’s disease [Read more…]

Anyone who has a parent, or other elderly loved one, in a nursing home is aware that nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious concern in the United States. As the population of older Americans continues to swell, the spotlight on nursing home abuse grows as well. One of the biggest problems with identifying nursing home abuse is that the administration often fears the sanctions and reprisals that follow the admission of a violation, frequently causing them to close ranks and operate under a veil of silence.  Consequently, workers are often scared to speak out when they observe abuse [Read more…]