Abuse of the Eldery

People think about abuse and rarely think about elder abuse when in reality it is just as prominent as abuse in any other age group. Abuse is defined as to intentionally hurt or maltreat a person or animal (Source 2). Just like child abuse or domestic abuse, elder abuse comes in all different forms: sexual, physical, emotional or psychological, neglect, and financial. The elderly are an easy target for caregivers to abuse and often times those being abused are too afraid to tell anyone about the harm that is being done to them (Source 1). Not all elderly persons are at risk for abuse but there are factors that will increase their risk. An elder living with a caregiver raises their chances of being abused because there is more of an opportunity for social contact between the two, which can result in agitation between the elder and their caregiver; when tensions raise too high, the caregiver can snap, ending in physical or emotional harm of the elder.

In connection with living arrangements, if an elder is isolated from other people besides their own family, the ability for the caregiver to abuse is much higher. If there is no one who can spot the abuse that is occurring and report it, then the abuse can continue on without anything stopping the abuser. Studies have shown that those who have high social contract are less likely to be abused. An obvious reason for abuse of the elderly is the decline of cognitive abilities in the elderly, including dementia. Illnesses such as dementia can leave a person to be confused about where they are at, who they are with, and what is going on around them. Because of this confusion, caregivers can become agitated with the one they are caring for, and in some cases, lash out and harm the individual with the mental illness. Lastly, if a caregiver is abusing substances such as alcohol or drugs, the caregiver is more likely to steal money or objects to sell in order to buy the substances they depend on. Financial abuse is one of the most popular types of elder abuse (Source 3).

The elderly are at risk for abuse because as people age they tend to start depending on people more and more especially for everyday needs such as driving, cooking, bathing, and other activities that occur on a daily basis. Slowed motor and cognitive skills cause the elderly to be at more risk for injury or poor personal hygiene making them more dependent on others for help. Neglect is a common form of abuse because caregivers feel overwhelmed by the demands of the one in their care. This is especially true when the caregiver has other responsibilities such as taking care of children, working, or going to school. Other elders that are at risk are those who have excess money or valuable items in their home. Children, grandchildren, or even neighbors are all potential threats to a senior’s finances. These people have the ability to coarse or threaten a senior citizen to give them money, or they may steal valuable items from their home such as paintings, jewelry, or even prescription pills to sell and make a profit (Source 4).

Elder abuse happens anywhere and everywhere. About 1 in 10 elderly persons has experienced some type of abuse (Source 5). Most of elder abuse occurs in their own home and the abuser is most commonly their own family member, however it happens in medical facilities also. Seniors are often placed in care facilities because they, nor the family can take care of them. There are different types of facilities for the elderly depending on their level of independence. All care facilities are similar in the fact that there is a nurse and a nursing assistant to help them with their care. Most often the abuse that occurs in care facilities is done to those who can do little for themselves and rely heavily on the workers. This type of stress on the caregivers can create resentment toward the one needing the care causing the caregiver to neglect the elderly. Again and gain abuse takes place because there is too much pressure on the caregiver and they end up feeling exhausted and frustrated by the task at hand.

There are easy ways to prevent the abuse of the elderly and there are steps that family or friends can take if they suspect that someone is being abused. To avoid abuse, the elderly should not be isolated from their family, friends, or the community because isolation makes it easy for one person to manipulate, intimidate, threaten, or harm them. To minimize the isolation family or friends should involve their elderly in activities such as religious services or family events. Not only will this minimize the potential for abuse, but it will also help the elderly stay healthy by interacting socially with other people. People should also be aware of who is visiting their elderly. Even neighbors can become abusive and manipulate the old into giving them money or even changing their will to incorporate them. If in a care facility, one sure way to make sure that your elderly are receiving the proper care is to visit frequently and when there, treat the staff with the utmost respect; it has been proven that if family is involved with the care of an elderly person in a care facility, they will be taken better care than if they were left alone (Source 6).

Also, if someone themselves feels overwhelmed by the chore of taking care of an elderly family member, there are centers called “respite facilities”. These Facilities offer a caregiver temporary relief from the demands of the elderly. Taking care of a family member can become a full-time job for most and it can become too much, especially if the caregiver has to meet other demands such as a job or caring for a family. Respite facilities let a caregiver drop off the one in their care and let other, qualified people care for that person for either only a couple hours, or the whole day. The ability to relinquish their caregiving duties helps the caregiver relax for a short amount of time, resulting in the less likelihood of any abuse to occur (Source 7).

The best way to end elder abuse is to be able to spot the signs of it. Many people who are experiencing abuse will stop taking care of themselves in many different forms such as not eating, bathing, socializing, and all of these behaviors will have serious impacts on their health. If being mistreated, the elderly will show differences in their physical appearance like sunken eyes and cheeks and untreated bed sores. Behavior indicators of abuse include depression, withdrawal, and overall fear to either talk to other or participate in social activities (Source 8). It is important to know the signs of abuse in order to stop the abuse in its tracks. Without intervention of some kind, abuse tends to go one for months or even years.

Elder abuse is a growing problem especially in the U.S.A. and not many people are even aware that it occurs both in the home and in healthcare facilities. Due to the age of the victim, people often think that they are not vulnerable and cannot be manipulated or harmed in any sort of way, however, many people do not understand that the mind and body deteriorates are people age, making them prime targets for abuse. Not only are the elderly vulnerable physically, they are also vulnerable mentally. Abuse is also mental as well as physical and abusers can manipulate the minds of the elderly, making them fear for their lives or their families lives if they report the abuse. No one should have to go through life living in fear and those who have elders in their life need to learn to protect them.

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