Celebrated actor, Mickey Rooney, aged 91, continued his claims of elder abuse against his step-son in a Los Angeles courtroom recently.  Rooney’s fame and prolific acting career produced numerous Academy Award nominations, an honorary Oscar, and other awards and nominations.  However, all of that fame and achievement did not shield him from the cruelty of elder abuse.

Elder abuse is injury, exploitation, or other mistreatment of someone over the age of 65 by a person that the elderly individual depends on for protection.  Rooney claims that his step-son and step-daughter-in-law maltreated him by withholding food and medication, prohibiting him from leaving his house, and stealing his funds.  Details of the recent hearing on the subject have not been made public.  Previously, Rooney successfully obtained a restraining order against his alleged abusers and Rooney’s attorney was appointed his conservator.  Last year, Rooney’s step-son was ordered to turn over Rooney’s identification cards, including his passport, insurance cards, and Screen Actors Guild membership.

Elder abuse is a serious problem affecting as many as 2.1 million Americans, according to the American Psychological Association.  This number is assumed to be low as many cases go unreported.  If you are the victim of elder abuse, or suspect that an elder is being abused, please contact authorities or tell someone who can help.  In New Mexico, contact Adult Protective Services at 866-654-3219.

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This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.