Abuse of the Elderly: How Widespread is It?
What exactly is elder abuse and how widespread is it?
The types of elder maltreatment are very much like other forms of domestic abuse. The most prevalent type of elder abuse according to a United States Department of Justice incident report study done in the late 1990s was neglect.
Coming in second to neglect was emotional and psychological abuse; and physical violence was the third most prevailing form of abuse. Other varieties of mistreatment of the elderly and coming in fourth and fifth were material and financial exploitation with actual abandonment fifth and last on the list.
More than two million elderly people are suspected to be victims of these abuses annually in the United States. The number jumps dramatically when unreported cases are factored into the data.
Who’s doing this?
According to the same study, nearly half of the abuse that was taking place was perpetrated by adult children of the victims. Instead of repaying a parent with respect for years of care, adult children when taking care of elderly parents are sometimes turning into the abusers.
Coming in second, third, and fourth, but with much lower percentages, were spouses, relatives outside of those in the immediate family, and grandchildren.
This is quite disturbing but there are questions that will never be fully answered, unfortunately. The question of greatest priority is whether this problem is more widespread now in recent years, or is it simply a matter of less people being afraid to report it? Estimates of reported cases vs. cases that are never brought to light are that only one out of about fourteen incidents is ever reported.
A surprising discovery
A surprising number of situations of abuse are actually cases of self-neglect with the elderly victims not taking care of their individual personal needs for whatever reason. We need to be able to recognize when things do not seem to be right with an elderly person in our life, family, or neighborhood. Education on the issues is a good first step.
There are many reasons that an elderly person may neglect personal needs, but one of the more common causes seems to be financial worries. If there is no insurance, or no supplemental program for medications, for instance, elderly people will often feel they have no choice but to ignore their prescribed medications. It isn’t just medication, either. The desire or need to “save money” even if there is adequate money to begin with, often has older people skimping on food, personal hygiene items, and things like heating oil or air conditioning.
Another possible underlying cause in numerous cases is that depression may be a factor. The depression overtakes everyday life and the elderly person has no desire to see that even basic daily needs are met.
What are the definitions?
Some forms of elder abuse are self explanatory and have the same definition as domestic abuse when it involves younger people. Physical abuse is the probably the easiest form to recognize, and includes anything that causes physical harm or pain to another person. Hitting, pushing, punching, slapping, beating, etc. would be manifest in this kind of abuse.
Emotional and psychological abuse causes torment and torture to the victim’s mental state. Some ways this is done, but not exclusively include:
� Mockery
� Harassment
� Threats of any kind
� Insults and intimidation
� Verbal abuse
Sexual abuse of the elderly has the same definition that it has for victims of other ages. It includes anything sexual or erotic to which the victim had not consented. There are more incidents than actual sexual intercourse that fall into this category including groping and improper touching, introducing pornographic materials, and so on.
Neglect is defined the way the word suggests; it is refusing to care for the victim in some way. This can include not providing enough food and water, not having adequate shelter available, or not making sure the elderly ward is kept clean and safe. Neglect, of course, would also include locking the victim away either figuratively or literally and paying no attention to them.
Another mode of abuse deals with economic matters and is known as financial abuse. Stealing from an elderly person in any way, or using their funds, assets, property, etc. for the sole benefit of the person doing the stealing is the most rampant way this is done.
How can I tell?
Physical abuse is easier to spot because there are suspicious bruises or marks, broken bones if there hasn’t been an “innocent” fall, and other forms of physical damage to the victim. Injuries that happen frequently and are inexplicable can be a determining factor. The injured party may also show fear to be alone with the abuser or refuse to get medical attention for recurring injuries.
Neglect, whether self induced or caretaker caused, can often be witnessed by paying attention to things such as whether the elderly person in question has lost weight, seems withdrawn or lonely, or seems to suffer dehydration or worsening medical problems or symptoms of a pre-existing condition. There may be shoddy hygiene involved if neglect is happening.
Spotting financial mistreatment may be more difficult if the elderly person does not confide such things. One way to tell might be to notice that items of value the elderly person had possession of in the past are suddenly missing. If the person in question was always able to pay bills and suddenly “can’t afford” something, it may be a sign that money is being stolen by some method. If you are able to see financial records, large withdrawals or transferred bank accounts may be cause for alarm as well as ATM activity that is not customary for the elderly person’s usual banking practices.
So what can I do if I suspect elder abuse?
Every state has laws in place to protect its elderly citizens and to probe reports of abuse. Look for an “Adult Protective Services” agency in your area and don’t be afraid to report your suspicions. If there is some reason you can’t do that, you may want to speak with the suspected victim’s physician or even his or her clergy member if they have one. Medical personnel and often clergy have an ethical requirement and responsibility to report abuses, so if you can’t do the reporting yourself for whatever reason, these people would be able to help with that.
Additional things to keep in mind . . .
� Although a large percentage of elder abuse is caused by a family member, it is not exclusive.
� The abuses can happen if the elderly person is residing in a nursing home or has a worker coming in the home for care.
� Bed sores are often a telltale sign of neglect.
� Just as with domestic abuse victimizing younger people, sometimes the elderly victim is isolated from friends and family so that the abuse will not be discovered.
� An ombudsman is an advocate for people living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Each state has one and reports are confidential unless the elderly person gives permission for it to be shared.
� APS (Adult Protective Services) is the best place to report suspected abuses of the elderly. You will find it listed under the Department of Human Services most likely, or Social Services.
