How can older adults protect themselves from ever becoming victims of abuse or mistreatment?

Older adults can protect themselves from becoming victims of abuse by taking certain precautions. These include: asking family, friends, and healthcare providers to look out for signs of mistreatment; being aware of your rights as a patient; creating an advance directive or living will; setting up a power of attorney to make sure that your wishes are followed if you become incapacitated; establishing strong communication with family members and/or trusted friends who can check in on you regularly; speaking up if something doesn’t feel right or appears wrong; learning more about elder abuse and ways to prevent it through online resources such as the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA); ensuring that all finances are carefully monitored, including automatic payments made from bank accounts; understanding that scams target seniors specifically so be cautious when conducting transactions over the phone or internet.