Elder Abuse: Ways To Spot It And Stop It
Elder Abuse – What Can YOU Do?
As we age, we can become more vulnerable, physically and mentally, as our strength and mental acuity naturally weaken. Seniors become prey to con artists and others who want their money. They can also be abandoned or physically harmed. There are five main types of elder abuse. As a caregiver or a family member of a senior loved one, it’s important to know the signs of abuse and how to stop it.
Generally speaking, elder abuse is a term that refers to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Legislatures in all 50 states have passed some form of elder abuse prevention laws.
More than two million older Americans are the victims of elder abuse each year, according to the Administration on Aging, as older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited. Many victims are people who are older, frail, and vulnerable and cannot help themselves and depend on others to meet their most basic needs. Abusers of older adults are both women and men, and may be family members, friends, or “trusted others.”
At a Pinal County Elder Abuse Conference in Casa Grande, Arizona, Special Assistant County Attorney Robert C. Brown presented a talk about elder abuse in the United States. Brown is recognized as a national expert on the subject and described elder abuse as: “Persons over 65 subject to physical and mental illness, social isolation, life transitions, and cultural biases which make manipulating them easy to do and difficult to prosecute.”
Types of Elder Abuse and the Signs
Brown described five basic types of elder abuse:
1. Physical Abuse
The use of physical force which may result in bodily injury, physical pain or impairment. Physical abuse may include such acts as striking, hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching and burning, actions that may be done to the victim. Suspect physical abuse if you see signs of bruising, burns, abrasions, or fractures. Any signs of injury out of the ordinary should be questioned.
2. Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is the illegal or improper use of an elder’s assets. This may include cashing the elder’s social security or pension checks without permission, taking money or property from the elder, coercing or deceiving the elder into parting with property or signing documents, and diverting guardianship or conservatorship assets. If you have someone in your family caregiving team who wants financial control, while personally being financially stressed, this is a distinct possibility.
Currently, financial abuse constitutes 12 percent of the abuse against the elderly in the United States. Identify possible financial abuse if bank statements are no longer coming to the parent’s home, the part-time (or even full-time) caregiver has no other means of financial support, there are missing assets or property or, importantly, if the caregiver appears to have a drug or alcohol habit.
3. Sexual Abuse
This is non-consensual sexual contact of any kind and it does happen to older adults.
Watch for genital or anal infection, difficulty in walking or sitting, or bilateral bruising of inner thighs.
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4. Psychological Abuse
This is a tough consideration because the victim symptoms may be caused by other physical, mental, medical or aging problems. Watch others in the caregiving process. Is there someone who threatens Mom or Dad, speaks poorly of the parent, or ignores the mature adult or his or her needs?
5. Neglect
Neglect is the failure of a person in charge of the care of an elder to adequately perform his or her obligations. This may include failure to provide medicines, hygiene, food or personal safety. This may occur when the caregiver unintentionally fails to provide adequate care; or it may happen when the caregiver lacks the knowledge about how to provide the care or when he or she is unable to cope with the stresses of caregiving.
To spot neglect, look for neglected bedsores, skin disorders or rashes, untreated injuries or medical problems, poor hygiene, hunger, malnutrition or dehydration, pallor or sunken cheeks or eyes, or lack of clean clothing or bedding.
Most importantly, remember to be alert. The suffering is often in silence. If you notice changes in a senior’s personality or behavior, you should start to question what’s going on. It’s not your role to verify that abuse is occurring, only to alert others of your suspicions. If you’re concerned that someone you know is being abused, please visit the webpage What If I Suspect Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation? to learn what you should do.
BLOG Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen