Mickey Rooney can be summed up by the title of his 1942 film “Andy Hardy’s Double Life.” Rooney was at the height of his career in 1940. He was one of the biggest box-office draws from 1939 to 1941, which brought him fame and fortune. The actor had a career spanning nine decades in which he appeared in more than 300 films. He was also one of the last surviving stars of the silent film era.
Although Rooney was very successful, the actor has been the alleged victim of elder abuse at the hands of his own stepkids. After filing a case against his stepchildren back in 2011, Rooney was granted court protection from his stepson Chris Aber and his step daughter Christina Aber. The stepchildren were charged with multiple accounts of verbal, emotional and financial abuse. They even went as far as denying Rooney basic necessities such as food and medicine.
The court says that both Chris and Christina Aber have been keeping their stepfather as “effectively a prisoner in his own home” through the use of threats, intimidations and harassment. It’s also to be noted that Chris Aber has also been accused of taking over Rooney’s finances, blocking access to his mail and forcing his stepfather into performances he did not wish to do.
After getting assistance from attorneys, Rooney was granted temporary protection for not only himself but for his wife, Jane Rooney and his stepson, Mark Rooney, who lives with the actor. Rooney fears for the safety of his family and is worried that Chris and Christina Aber might retaliate, or even try to kidnap the actor.
“All I want to do is live a peaceful life, to regain my life and be happy,” Rooney wrote in a statement. “I pray to God each day to protect us, help us endure and guide those other senior citizens who are also suffering.”
Elder abuse is such a horrific thing to read about. Im glad that Rooney and his family were able to make the correct decision and filed a case against their stepchildren. While elder abuse of this magnitude is rare, experts say that some kind of abuse and neglect, whether physical, psychological, sexual or financial, are a major concern for the aging population.
It’s estimated that between 700,000 – 3.5 million Americans become victims somewhere on the spectrum of abuse. Often times, elder abuse is the unintentional neglect from family members who are ignorant on the proper ways to care of an aging individual.
In the interview, Rooney says that he hopes others will not wait as long as he did to report it. With tears on his face, you can tell that this man has gone through a lot.
If you or any other person are suffering from any form of elderly abuse, seek professional help for protection. If you see any kind of abuse going on, any department of aging can help you.
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