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Elder Abuse and Neglect
Elder abuse and neglect among the elderly is one of the many challenges we face today. Elder mistreatment is a common, yet frequently ignored problem in our society. The elderly population is increasing dramatically. By the year, 00 demographic predictors say the population of 65+ will grow to 70 million, which represents a 100 percent increase over 0 years. So elderly abuse and neglect will continue to be serious problem in the United States. It is estimated that in the year 000 “11,000 Americans age 65 or older experienced a violent crime”. Elder abuse not only happens in institutional settings, but it is also appearing in domestic settings. The close, extended, and often times unsupervised visits that helpers have with patients has increasingly highlighted the need to protect elderly clients.
Like any other form of abuse, elder abuse is a multifaceted problem, and it is easy for people to have misconceptions about it. When you hear the words “elder abuse and neglect” you often times think of elderly people sitting all alone in nursing homes with no visitors. But I have mentioned earlier that elder abuse is not just a problem of older people living in nursing homes, but it is right in our midst. Most of the incidents of elder abuse doesn’t happen in a nursing home setting. Often times there are reports of nursing home residents who are mistreated, but for the most part elder abuse takes place in the home. When elder abuse happens in the home it is usually done by a family member or a paid caregiver. It is often times difficult to tell if elder abuse is occurring. Often times it is hidden by seclusion and covered up by seems like a happy home.
Elder abuse/mistreatment is defined as “any intentional action or nonaction that causes harm to an elderly person. It is estimated that every year “.1 million older Americans are victims of either physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect”. Approximately “four percent of elders experience moderate to severe abuse each year, with women at a greater risk”.
Custom Essays on Elder Abuse and Neglect
The Administration on Aging recognizes three basic categories of abuse. These include domestic, institutional, and self-neglect. Domestic elder abuse refers to the mistreatment of an older person residing in his/her own home. Institutional abuse refers to any form of abuse that occurs in residential facilities. Self-neglect refers to the behavior of an older person living alone. The National Center on Elder Abuse also defines seven types of elder abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or psychological abuse, financial abuse or material exploitation, neglect, abandonment, and self-neglect. These forms of abuse can be described as
Physical abuse can range from slapping to harsh beatings. Physical abuse can also include such acts against the older person as over-or under-medicating, or depriving the elder person of food. It is estimated that 5.6 percent of the elder population are being physically abused.
Sexual abuse can range from sexual exhibition to rape. Sexual abuse is not often reported as a type of elderly abuse.
Emotional and/or psychological abuse can range from name calling or giving the elderly individual the “silent treatment” to terrorize and endanger the individual. When a caregiver or family member acts in a way that causes panic, emotional pain or suffering, the behavior is considered abusive. Approximately 5.5 percent of the elderly population suffer from emotional and/or psychological abuse.
Financial and/or material exploitation can vary from misuse of an elders’ funds to embezzlement. Financial exploitation includes fraud, taking money, forgery, or denying the older individual access to his or her own account. It is estimated that approximately 0. percent of the elderly population are being exploited financially.
Self-neglect can range from not eating, not going to the doctor for needed medication or because of alcohol or drug abuse. One of the most difficult problems family members face is achieving a balance between respecting and older person’s autonomy and stepping in before self-neglect becomes unsafe.
There are certain signs that abuse maybe taking place and these include
Physical Abuse
Bruises or grip marks around the arms
Repeated unexplained injuries
Emotional/Psychological Abuse
Uncommunicative and unresponsive
Lack of interest in social activities
Sexual Abuse
Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
Venereal diseases or vaginal infections
Financial Abuse or Exploitation
Large withdrawals from bank accounts
Signatures on check doesn’t match elder’s signature
Neglect
Bed sores
Loss of weight
In all but eight states, physicians, other health professionals are required by law to report abuse of elders, but only six percent of abuse cases are reported.
You maybe asking yourself why elder abuse takes place. But there is no real explanation. Elder abuse is a difficult problem that can materialize from several different reasons. Elderly abuse normally beings with seemingly normal conflicts and negative interactions that can gradually build up to abusive situations. Family situations can contribute to elder abuse. Usually, elder abuse occurs in situation where one person is providing for the other. Often times with the presence of an elder person in the home it creates friction. Stress is a major factor of why elder abuse happens in the home. Also, perhaps there has been a history of violence in the family, so an adult child may take the opportunity to “turn the tables” on the abusing parent by not providing nourishment or by overmedicating the elder parent. In some cases financial burdens or paying for health care may lead to stress that can perhaps trigger elder abuse. Also, the caregiver can be a factor to the abuse of an elder individual. Personal problems of the caregiver can lead to abusing a frail older person. Caregiver stress is a significant risk factor for abuse and neglect. It is important to remember that abuse can occur in any situation.
How can we prevent elder abuse? The first and most important step is to realize that no one deserves to be treated with disrespect and no one should be subjected to violent or neglectful behavior. In order to promote this attitude people need to be educated about elder abuse and encourage counseling and treatment to cope with personal and family problems that may contribute to abuse. I firmly believe that education on elder abuse is the way that we can prevent it. Another way of eliminating elder abuse is to have someone come in and care for the elder a few hours a week; this may in fact relieve caregiver stress. Everyone must remember that, “Every person- every men, and child deserves to be treated with respect and with caring”. If everyone would go by that, then elder abuse wouldn’t be an issue today. Elder abuse, like other form of abuse, is never an acceptable response to any problem or situation.
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