A graduate of the University of Akron School of Law, Dixie Park presides as a judge in Stark County Probate Court. Judge Dixie Park oversees guardianship cases and civil involuntary commitments of the mentally ill. She also has a keen interest in elder abuse.

Elder abuse is a serious problem in the U.S., affecting about 5 million elders annually. One study estimated that only one (1) in twenty-four (24) cases of elder abuse is reported. Elder abuse can rob elders of their dignity, drive them into depression, and destroy their sense of security.

There are a number of types of elder abuse, including physical and financial. Physical abuse is harm that results in bodily injuries such as bruises, broken bones, or burns. One sign of physical abuse is if an elder has a hospitalization pattern for the same problem or injury.

Financial abuse, the unauthorized use of an elder’s capital and resources, robs elders in the U.S. of more than $35 billion every year. Signs of elder financial abuse can be financial agreements and arrangements made without any documentation, or missing belongings from the elder’s property.

For more information on Judge Dixie Park, visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JudgeDixiePark/