Elder Abuse and Neglect Lawyer in Toronto: Your Legal Advocate for Justice

For any family, learning that an older relative has been a victim of elder abuse or neglect can be a distressing and traumatic experience. In the majority of cases, the abuser and the victim have a personal relationship, and this type of mistreatment can happen in various places, such as the home, hospital, office, long-term care facility, or even online. It can be emotionally devastating for families to learn that their loved ones have been subjected to such mistreatment, regardless of whether it’s a parent, grandparent, or other close family member.

At Roberts & Obradovic Law, we are committed to protecting the rights of older adults, and we have a team of experienced elderly abuse lawyers in Toronto. Our team has a deep knowledge of the law and the legal process and can represent clients in a variety of elder abuse cases. We believe in providing compassionate and personalized attention to our clients, ensuring that their needs are met, and their legal rights are protected.

What is Elderly Abuse

It’s important to understand that the legal definition of “elderly” encompasses a wide age range and is not restricted to a particular group. As a result, elder abuse and neglect can happen to anyone as long as it’s related to their age and need for help and care.

Elderly abuse can take many forms, and it is not always easy to recognize. While physical abuse is the most visible form of elder abuse, there are other types that are equally damaging. Emotional abuse involves verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation. Confinement refers to restraining or isolating an older adult, while passive neglect involves a caregiver’s failure to provide basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. Willful deprivation occurs when an older adult is denied medication, medical care, shelter, food, a therapeutic device, or other physical assistance, exposing them to the risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm. Financial exploitation is another type of elder abuse, which involves the misuse or withholding of an older adult’s money, property, bank account, or credit card information. 

Laws Addressing Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults

Currently, there are no federal laws in Canada that specifically address elder abuse. Instead, the responsibility of developing laws related to elderly abuse falls within the jurisdiction of each province and territory. This means that each province and territory have their own set of elderly laws that cater to their respective populations.

Ontario Long-Term Care Act

In Ontario, the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 safeguards the rights of residents living in long-term care facilities by establishing a Residents’ Bill of Rights and defining five types of abuse that can occur in such settings:

• Financial abuse – refers to the misappropriation or misuse of a resident’s property or money.
• Emotional abuse – is defined as any gestures, actions, behaviour, or remarks that are threatening, insulting, intimidating, or humiliating, including social isolation, ignoring, or infantilization, and are performed by anyone other than the resident. 
• Physical abuse – involves the use of physical force by anyone other than a resident that results in physical pain or injury, administering or withholding a drug for an inappropriate purpose, or the use of physical force by a resident that causes physical injury to another resident. 
• Sexual abuse – encompasses any consensual or non-consensual touching, behaviour, or remarks of a sexual nature directed towards a resident by a licensee, staff member, or a person other than a licensee or staff member.
• Verbal abuse – is any form of verbal communication of a threatening or intimidating nature that diminishes a resident’s sense of self-worth or safety, and is made by anyone other than a resident or a resident who understands the consequences of their communication.

Legal Counsel for Elder Abuse Victims in Toronto

At Roberts & Obradovic Law, we provide legal assistance and representation to victims of elder abuse and neglect. Our team of experienced lawyers understands the unique challenges faced by elderly clients and their families, and we are committed to fighting for their rights. Our Toronto-based elder abuse lawyers are known for their unwavering dedication and tenacity in advocating for clients and pursuing full compensation. We work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve, and we will provide compassionate support and personalized attention throughout the legal process, guiding you and your family every step of the way. If you would like to know how our law firm can help, contact us or call us at (647) 724-5179 today for a free consultation.