Elder Abuse Happens Often

My experience with Elder Abuse is not just one situation. I would love to say that the one daughter that I saw mistreat her mom was the only one I know about but I have seen so much.

Another neighbor was a nice couple, they are not from here but they moved here. At first, they seemed odd but committed to Texas. Then I found out the husband is committed to die in Texas his wife not so much. Fast forward a few years she develops Alzheimer’s and he is well not any more normal, you know the type they start out as eccentric but as they age there are no more adjectives left. Since she was always quiet and spoke broken English, I did not know she had Alzheimer’s. I just thought she was a bit tired, or confused from being in the Texas heat so long. Once I actually got into a situation where he was stuck on the floor unable to get up and she expected me to get him up. I realized she was far gone, it was a sad situation. He was refusing to allow medical treatment for himself. She was unable to care for herself or him. I was refusing to help him out mainly because we have helped him a few too many times. As well as other neighbors, there comes a time when you need real medical care. He pushed me too far.

My mom is safe and well cared for. I can sleep at night and know she is okay. My neighbor did agree to go to the local hospital. I found his wife had walked home close to dark. I called their daughter up north. She said her mother would be fine alone. This woman could not tell me the day, the time of day or even my own name. With the falling ordeal, I realized she had told the new neighbor her own wrong name. It is so sad to see a physically fit woman in her seventies with advanced Alzheimer’s. You add on top of her diagnosis the unwillingness for her family to come down and help her I was livid. She has four kids none of which seemed to be as concerned as her neighbors were. I know she was a fantastic mom, God knows she was a fabulous neighbor.

I found out a lot during this situation what you do, as a concerned citizen or neighbor. If you suspect a person is in trouble call 911, document it. The poor law enforcement came out and was expecting a little elderly small woman, whom they found was a tall physically fit woman in her seventies not her nineties. Once they spoke with her they came to the same conclusion that I did she needed help, and should never be left alone. It took several months for the family to come down and take her home. She longed for her home she had known for decades. The husband stayed here, he has health care workers come in. I guess dying in Texas means more than she does to him.

Never said it has a happy ending but at least the wife is a place that is safe and familiar for her.

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