With Americans aging better and living longer, elderly adults are one of the fastest-growing groups in the United States.
But many of these elderly adults face physical and psychological abuse from their caregivers.
And police were floored by what a Florida man told them about the smelly rotting flesh on his father’s back.
Advancements in technology and medicine have allowed life expectancy rates to increase over the years.
In 1901, the expected age of death for Americans was only 49.
By 2022, that number had climbed to 77.
“Life expectancy in the United States has recently declined, notably dropping from 79.7 years in 2017 to 76.1 years in 2021,” Kent State reported. “This setback is attributable to the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with persistent health risks such as opioid abuse and obesity.”
Higher life expectancy rates mean there are more elderly Americans alive than ever before.
By 2040, nearly 80 million Americans will be older than 65.
Unfortunately, many of these elderly Americans face physical or psychological abuse.
More than 7,600 health citations were issued to nursing homes last year due to abuse and neglect of residents.
But elderly abuse also happens with family caregivers.
In 2021-22, 37.1 million family caregivers provided unpaid care to a family or non-family member aged 65+.
According to studies, 10% of Americans older than 60 and living at home, will experience some form of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
But doctors in Florida were shocked by the abuse of one elderly man that led to his death.
Jimmy Lamar Cardwell, a 71-year-old, suffered a stroke six years ago that left him paralyzed on his left side.
His son, 45-year-old Alton Leamon Cardwell, became his full-time caregiver after he suffered the stroke.
“But on Aug. 28 Rockledge Regional Medical Center’s intensive care unit launched a death investigation after Jimmy Cardwell was rushed into emergency surgery due to his appalling physical and medical condition,” Newsbreak reported.
Doctors told police that the man had a “distinct smell of rotting flesh.”
Once they examined the man, the doctors discovered an infected left foot with overgrown toenails and layers of dead skin, overgrown fingernails and hair, two severe pressure ulcers on his back and right shoulder with puss coming out of it.
He also had a visible bone on his back.
The old man told the doctors he was being abused.
“The victim, Cardwell did not want to return back to the residence,” doctors said.
When police interviewed his son, the son said he was the caregiver and that his dad was bedridden for two years.
“He claimed he bathed him every few days and fed him every day, but would later admit to only bathing him every few months,” Newsbreak reported. “He told police he provided for his father with the $2,000 he received from social security every month, but when asked how he spent that money he could only account for $300 worth of supplies- the rest went to rent and other household items.”
The son told police he refused to clean his infected foot because his father would “kick him when he tried.”
As for the puss-oozing pressure ulcer, the son said, “it wasn’t that bad.”
The son was arrested and is being held at the Brevard County Jail.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
