Mickey Rooney was born in the spotlight: His parents were actors, he made his stage debut when he was 15 months, and he has been acting in films ever since 1927, when he was 7 years old. Now, he has taken on a new role: Advocate speaking on behalf of victims of elder abuse. And he knows what he’s talking about. According to ABC and Good Morning America, Rooney has recently been granted court protection from his stepchildren who, he claims, abused him.
“For years I suffered silently, unable to muster the courage to seek the help I knew I needed,” according to remarks he’s scheduled to deliver in Washington on the topic of elder abuse before a Senate committee on aging.
The senate hearing is called “Justice for All: Ending Elder Abuse, Neglect and Financial Exploitation.” The goal is to draw attention to these problems, and to help focus the government and community efforts to combat them. Having such a renowned star as Mickey Rooney as a spokesperson will bring added attention to this wide-spread, but much-neglected issue. And perhaps his words will encourage other abused seniors to speak up and seek help.
“I think a lot of people are going to see Mickey Rooney and say, ‘If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone,'” he [committee spokesman Joe Bonfiglio] said. “If someone is currently a victim, I think his testimony will give them the courage to stand up and get help.”
Court documents say that Mickey Rooney’s stepchildren kept Rooney a prisoner in his own home through threats, intimidation, and harassment. Some specific examples: Rooney says his stepchildren controlled his finances, locked his refrigerator, and hid his passport and other identification.
In addition to the temporary restraining order, a judge assigned Mickey Rooney a temporary conservator of his estate. Rooney will appear in court again on April 5 to have the restraining order extended for 3 years.
If you know someone who is the victim of elder abuse, speak up for them. They may not be able to speak for themselves, or they may be too frightened of repercussions. At HensonFuerst, we stand up for the rights of the elderly everyday. If you have any questions, take a look at our website at https://www.lawmed.com/. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.
To read the full Good Morning America report, click here: Mickey Rooney to take stand against elder abuse