Arkansas Woman Faces Felony Charges in Elder Abuse
A report posted by the Paragould Daily News in Paragould, AR is reporting that a 44-year-old woman was arrested on June 2nd charged with neglecting her elderly mother. Joan Dollins faces charges of abuse of an adult – a class B felony charge. The report states that this charge includes negligence and abuse or exploitation of any endangered or impaired person, if the abuse causes substantial physical injury or risk of death.
According to the report, Dollins’ elderly mother, Norma, was ordered into long-term adult protective custody following an affidavit being signed on her behalf to remove her from her daughter’s home where she was being cared for. The affidavit stated the home was not in a sanitary condition and Norma was not being cared for properly. Norma Dollins is diagnosed with several medical conditions and is physically unable to move herself or leave the home. Norma Dollins was previously in an incident in which she was trapped in her home after falling from her wheelchair. At the time of the fall, a house fire had broken out and Arkansas police had to assist Dollins to get out of her home.
In any elder neglect incident, the potential for a dangerous situation to arise is always present. Although the incident involving Norma Dollins trapped in a house fire is unrelated to the incident of elder abuse she suffered, the potential for Dollins to be victimized in another dangerous situation could have easily occurred. In the past, elderly people have been neglected and essentially left to rot away with nobody to assist them. Nobody should ever have to be put in this situation. An experienced Arizona attorney can assist you or your loved ones if you believe they have been neglected by their caregiver in any way.
