Elder Abuse, Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney's testimony about the elder abuse he has suffered may be news only to me -- since I don't see television I'm often behind. But I do read blogs and I just saw on the Sage's Play blog the information. She quotes: Rooney's emotional testimony put the issue of elder abuse on the national stage in a heartrending way. "For years I suffered silently. I didn't want to tell anybody. I couldn't muster the courage, and you have to have courage," Rooney said. "I needed help and I knew I needed it. Even when I tried to speak up, I was told to shut up and be quiet."

He told the committee, "My money was stolen from me, by someone close. My money was taken and misused. When I asked for information, I was told that I couldn't have any of my own information. I was literally left powerless." An April 5th court hearing will investigate charges Rooney is bringing against his stepson. The court filing claims that the stepson withheld food and medicine, acted intimidating and verbally abusive, and abused Rooney financially."

Rooney is 90 years old, he's a small man as we all know, but always seemed to have a lot of guts. But getting older, as they say, is not for wimps. And when there is money, there's temptation. I don't know about Rooney but a lot of actors preferred not to deal with money and had a manager. They never learned many financial basics, the successful ones always assume they'll have plenty of money.

Not many people think they will live to 90. Also many older women who always depended on their husbands' financial caretaking are very vulnerable to both financial and physical abuse. This is profoundly saddening but I am happy Rooney screwed up his courage and spoke out.