Bullying is a Problem for Oklahoma Seniors

An elder law attorney at Parman & Easterday can provide you with help finding a safe living environment when you are reaching your golden years. Many seniors want to remain independent as long as possible, but may need assistance in the form of long-term care at home. Others will eventually need to move to a nursing home. Our firm will help you to ensure you are able to afford to get the care that you need and will work with you to ensure that you find a safe living environment.

Taking steps in advance to make certain you have a safe living environment can be very important because some nursing home care facilities are prone to problems that can affect your health. These problems could include understaffing or a history of nursing home abuse. There could also be other issues as well. For example, News OK explained recently that bullying is a major problem for older adults.

Bullying is a Problem for Oklahoma Seniors

According to News OK, statistics show that around 10 percent to 20 percent of all seniors living in long-term care facilities are subject to bullying. Typically, this type of bullying behavior could include seniors being snubbed or prevented from participating in activities with others; verbal abuse of seniors; gossiping; cruelty; spreading rumors; and excluding seniors.  Both men and women can be subject to bullying, and both men and women may engage in bullying.

There are many possible causes of bullying among the senior population. In some circumstances, people who were bullies for their whole lives just continue the behavior when they move to senior living communities. In other circumstances, depression or loneliness trigger bullying behavior — and this often occurs when older people are forced to leave their home to move to a nursing home care facility.  Neurological diseases among seniors could also cause them to engage in abusive actions towards others.

Senior living communities need to monitor for this type of behavior and need to take steps to ensure that residents of nursing care facilities are not victimized by it. Unfortunately, some care facilities do a better job with this process than others do.

Getting Help from an Elder Law Attorney

An elder law attorney at Parman & Easterday will work to help you ensure that you find a safe living environment where you will be free from bullying or any type of nursing home abuse. We will also assist you in making sure that you can afford to live in a nursing home that provides you with a safe living space, or that you can afford to get long-term care at home — ideally without losing the chance to leave your legacy.

To find out more about how Parman & Easterday can provide you with assistance, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call today at (405) 843-6100 or (913) 385-9400 or contact us online to work with a compassionate and knowledgeable member of our legal team in making plans for how you will spend your senior years.