ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF THE ELDERLY ENG-126-1103A-10 COLORADO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY ANTOINETTE J. WILCOX 07/31/2011
Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly
Every year tens of thousands of elderly adults in the United States are abused in their own homes, in homes of relatives, and even in places that are responsible for their care. Some people may suspect that an elderly adult that they know are being abused physically, or emotionally by neglect or an overwhelmed caregiver or being preyed upon financially. People often see the abuse and say nothing, most are caregivers who are afraid to speak up because they think that their co-workers will retaliate, and then there are those that think that they may lose their jobs at work. There are some elderly people with adult children who also abuse them, because they can’t deal with the stress of taking care of their elderly parents, they think of them as being a burden and don’t have the time or the patience and rather not deal with them.
Abuse of the elderly is on the rise, it’s an ongoing epidemic, because people fail to notice the bruises or pain that the elderly is in and also that some realizes the signs and don’t care. Nine times out of ten if an elderly person says that they have been abuse, they have and still won’t get involved and report the crime.
EVIDENCE O ELDERLY ABUSE
1. There are 500,000 to 1000,000 reports of abuse of the elderly reported to authorities every year, the majority of which are proven to be true. According to data different states, for every case of elderly abuse reported 12, or 13 are not.
ABUSE and NEGLECT of the ELDERLY
2. Not everyone knows the signs of abuse; states differ on who is required to report abuse of the elderly (there’s no federal standard) though the categories of mandatory reporters are expanding. It is mandatory that caregivers, banks and any other entity dealing with the elderly report suspected abuse.
SIGNS OF ABUSE
1. Bodily injury, bruising 2. Over medicated 3. Unexplained infection, such as venereal disease 4. Untreated physical problems 5. Unsanitary living conditions such as bed bugs, shingles, lice, scabies 6. Behaving suspiciously 7. Psychological abuse 8. Sexual abuse 9. Emotional abuse 10. Financial abuse, such as suspicious activity with the elderly person’s accounts
REASONS CAREGIVERS OR FAMILY MEMBERS MAY ABUSE THE ELDERLY
1. Inability to cope with stress 2. Depression 3. Lack of support from staff or caregivers 4. Substance abuse 5. Poorly trained, poorly paid and insufficient staff 6. Inadequate answers to questions about the elderly persons care
Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly
Abuse of the elderly is a problem that needs the attention of everyone and anyone, who has or know an elderly person. People often turns their heads and look the other way when someone is being abused. It’s my opinion that if anyone has a heart and cares for the elderly they should report and elderly abuse. People need to stand up for the people that need our help, and at this time it is the elderly people who have lived for years and they deserve to live on without abuse so that they may maintain their respect and dignity and also their rights to life without abuse.
This is something that needs to be addressed soon, being that no one speaks up for them and they have no one to talk to sometimes and no visitors, people think that they are home free from being charged with the abuse. Everyone who has a family member or friend needs to speak up. If you are someone that has a heart and you see or notice abuse, please report it to the authorities, you state Ombudsman, or the elderly abuse hotline. It is our duty to protect our elderly adult and their rights. It’s time to take a stand against elder abuse.
Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly
References: Underwood, R.A (2005). Good reasons to take elder abuse seriously. Nursing Homes: Long Term Care management, 54(9), 106. Retrieved from EBSCO HOST
Zandt, S.H, Reeve, K.E, & Bach-Peterson, J. (19800 Relatives of the impaired aged: correlates of feelings of burdens. Gerontology 20,649-655
Steinmetz, S.K.(1985) Duty Bound: Elder Abuse and Family care. Newburg park, CA : Sage
Anetzberger, Georgia J. et al.” Elder Mistreatment a call for help”. Patient care 27.11 (1993):93+ Nursing and allied Health Collection. Web 30 July 2011
References: Underwood, R.A (2005). Good reasons to take elder abuse seriously. Nursing Homes: Long Term Care management, 54(9), 106. Retrieved from EBSCO HOST Zandt, S.H, Reeve, K.E, & Bach-Peterson, J. (19800 Relatives of the impaired aged: correlates of feelings of burdens. Gerontology 20,649-655 Steinmetz, S.K.(1985) Duty Bound: Elder Abuse and Family care. Newburg park, CA : Sage Anetzberger, Georgia J. et al.” Elder Mistreatment a call for help”. Patient care 27.11 (1993):93+ Nursing and allied Health Collection. Web 30 July 2011
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