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Elder Abuse Investigations With an aging population and more of our elders at risk for abuse, neglect and exploitation, elder abuse is a rapidly growing concern. Our investigators can help you gather the evidence needed for court and/or to make more informed decisions to support your aging loved ones. Services are available for an array of elder investigations for in-home cases, nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities and individuals who suspect abuse and neglect may be occurring. The following are the types of elder abuse & neglect investigations conducted.
Elder Checks: Its normal to be concerned about the care your loved ones are receiving and in some situations if they are still able to properly care for themselves. Investigators make visits to the hospice, nursing home, private homes, retirement communities, hospitals and neighbors. We check out the surrounding for you and report back to the family regarding living conditions and well-being. Our investigators are seasoned experts in elder abuse neglect and financial exploitation. Let us assess your loved ones situation so you rest easier knowing they taken care of and their needs are met. Physical abuse: Do you suspect physical abuse such as bruises, welts, cuts, punctures, bites, burns, scalds, or other physical injuries? Other signs of abuse that are not as obvious are sprains, dislocation, bone fractures and internal injuries. Mission Possible Investigations investigators can document observations, review medical documentation and conduct interviews on cases to help families make more informed decisions for their aging family. Investigators have also investigated complex cases of asphyxiation, suffocation, drowning, injury with deadly weapon and even death due to abuse and neglect. Sexual Abuse: Where does the aging sexual offender population end up? Investigators have handled a range of sexual assault cases with senior victims. including: sexual assault, sexual molestation, sexual exploitation and lewdness. These are crimes that happen to seniors too.Often these are very sensitive cases and require a special understanding and specialization in conducting interviews. Investigators at Wilcox & Associates can work with the family, law enforcement, and appropriate governing agencies to assure you that your loved one doesn’t have to go through these traumatic experiences again and is not traumatized by the system in place to protect them. Psychological Abuse: This is often the most common case of elder abuse but hardest to prove. Is your loved one being harassed, belittled, or ridiculed? Does the facility or in-home caregiver that cares for your loved one use inappropriate, excessive restraints, excessive isolation, confinement or bizarre punishment? Private Investigators can set up surveillance and conduct interviews as to the events. Investigators can review medical documentation to determine if the facilities have crossed the line. Private Investigators can provide evidence to our clients and their attorneys for litigation purposes. Self-neglect: If you live far away from your aging loved one its important to know if they can still adequately care for themselves. Food, clothing, shelter are basic necessities but often seniors find themselves without the basics. Investigators can check in and assess their living conditions and see if they are taking proper care of themselves. Your loved one may live in the next town over or in sunny Florida but that doesn’t mean they have the resources they need. Investigators at Wilcox & Associates can help evaluate your loved ones situation so that you can take the appropriate action if there is a need. Provider neglect: Is the facility that your loved one lives not adequately providing for their basic needs? Does the hospital or nursing home neglect your loved one for hours at a time and they develops decubitis? Does the facility give inappropriate or excessive drugs to your loved one? Investigators at Wilcox & Associates can help evaluate your loved ones situation so that you can take the appropriate action if there is a need. Nursing Home Investigations: Protecting Our Vulnerable Citizens Do you know the kind of care your aging/ disabled loved ones are really receiving? Investigators at Wilcox & Associates have logged hundreds of investigative hours protecting our most vulnerable citizens. From nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, in-home paid/non-paid caregivers and group homes, our investigators have been there: watching, interviewing and noting the kinds of care being received. If you live out of state and don’t have immediate access to your loved ones this is even more critical. Investigators are able to conduct spot checks as well as surveillance to see the care they are receiving or to evaluate your loved one’s living conditions and self-care if they are still on their own. Investigators can evaluate your case and provide recommendations for any further action including legal action you may want to take in the case of abuse or neglect. Elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation are just some of what your aging loved ones may be facing. Many times abuse can be physical, emotional or even sexual. While all care facilities require staff to be trained how to treat patients medically and emotionally there are many times staff become frustrated because the elder individual maybe didn’t hear or understand what was being said. Lack of proper training and education can contribute to the neglect as well as lack of consequences or law enforcement involvement in many cases. Your aging loved ones are often easy prey for financial exploitation and even identity theft. Nursing Home clients and those with an in-home caregiver are particularly vulnerable. Some examples we have investigated include: missing clothing and personal items particularly those of value, money, credit / debit cards and checks missing or being used fraudulently, even deeds to family homes fraudulently signed over to caregivers. These are just a few of the hundreds of cases Mission Possible Investigators have handled. Sexual & Domestic Assault Investigation Sexual harassment claims are serious and should be taken seriously by the investigator handling the case. These are also sensitive investigations and should be handled by an investigator that knows the ins and outs of the laws. Wilcox & Associates investigators are such investigators. Wilcox & Associates investigators can review files, conduct interviews and assess credibility of those involved and other potential witnesses, complete thorough background checks and get the specifics of what happened. If necessary and appropriate, investigators can obtain video and audio surveillance as well. Sexual Assault Investigations Sexual assault investigations should never be handled by an investigator who has no experience handling these cases. Whether the case is going forward in civil court, a false accusation or a search for evidence to bring to case forward criminally, Wilcox & Associates investigators can help. Wilcox & Associates has investigators on staff that has worked with sexual assault victims in many capacities from investigations to forensic interviews and legal advocacy. Investigators can conduct interviews of potential witnesses, gather evidence, complete background and criminal record checks, and review documentation to help build a criminal or civil case. Call Wilcox & Associates to speak with trained investigators. |