Blog # 5
Elder Abuse is a term that defines harmful acts towards an elder person. Everyday we hear stories or see pictures of seniors who have been abused, neglected, and exploited, often by people they trust the most. Most abusers are spouses, personal acquaintance, family members, professionals in positions of trust. Elder abuse usually takes place in settings such as the elder's home, nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, or in a caregiver's homes.
There are several types of elder abuse:
1. Pysical abuse
2. Sexual abuse
3. Emotional or Psychological abuse
4. Financial exploitation
5. Neglect
6. Self-neglect
Some possible indicaters of abuse are:
weight loss, sunken eyes, lack of personal care, dehydration, pressure sores, or bedsores, burns, cuts, bruises, falls, fractures, unusual banking activities, personal belongings missing, anxiety, confusion, withdrawn, thoughts of suicide, lack of eye contact, shame, trembling, clinging, cowering and many more.
The question is what can we do to prevent elder abuse? some of my answers are listed below, what are yours?
1. Report suspected mistreatment to your local adult protective services agency or law enforcement.
2. keep in contact with your older friends because this can decrease isolation, a risk factor for mistreatment.
3. Look and take note of what may be happening with your older neighbors and acquaintances
4. Contact your local area agency to identify local programs and sources of support such as meals on wheels.
5. Volunteer in programs that provide assistance and support for seniors.
6. World Elder abuse awareness day - help raise awareness by talking about the issue.
To learn more about the issue - Visit the National Center on Elder Abuse website at
www.ncea.aoa.gov.
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This reminds me of my friend's father, who was put in a nursing home and recently found to have been physically abused there. When my family and I found out about it, we were all appaled. How could someone abuse an elderly person? The father had Alzhimers so he wasnt fully aware of what was happening, and his daughter is having a difficult time helping him through the incident. I think that something should be done to better train nursing home employees, and people should learn how to treat others with respect.
ReplyDeleteThis subject definitely made me raise an eyebrow. My wife’s grandmother is in a nursing home and every time we go, elderly abuse is the last thing on our mind. We generally think of the nursing home as a safe place. However, my mother in-law is always keeping tabs on the staff and visiting frequently because they don’t always give proper care. The one case I can think of where there was any fishiness was when an antique buyer came to her trying to severely under purchase her furniture. This happened because she was moving from an apartment within the building into the assisted living portion of the building and had to get rid of the majority of the furniture.
ReplyDeleteJust as Lydia rightly said that,"Most abusers are spouses, personal acquantances, family friends, and professionals in position," I do agree with that. I think the most disturbing abuse is that from family members. With the abuse from professionals, I think it requires a knowledgable, loving, and kind hearted person to take very good care of the elders considering the behaviour of elders with Alzeimers.This is because most often, the abuse is from the elders who do it unaware due to their disease, and an unkind person retaliates it.
ReplyDeleteIn general, I believe whether home, or at a facility, it really requires a very loving and kind hearted person to treat an elder good. We all need the education, and passion else we will find ourselves doing the same thing in one way or the other.
It is very unfortunate to see this issue in today’s society. But I believe one way of preventing this from happening is family members visiting a loved one in an elder care facility and make sure they are getting a right treatment and not abused by care givers. But it doesn’t have to be in facility there could be a chance even their home someone visits them instead of caring for them abusing. The close family for that elderly person should take a close attention what is going on in the surroundings. Sometimes the elder people may not able to communicate effectively but understand what has been said. So it is important to find a way of communication such as by asking them are you getting a good treatment? Is the care giver treating you well? Ask a loved one to respond by squeezing you hand for yes or lifting their fingers for no. whatever gesture they can use to communicate should be implemented to get an idea how they have been treated. We can stop elderly abuse as a whole society. The more people who get involved, the better the chance of having the abuse brought to justice. So let us protect our elderly.
ReplyDeleteI believe that an at home nurse would be nice to have, even though they are expensive. that way the elder has a familiar surrounding and can be at home and be cared for at the same time. Elder abuse is horrible act to commit especailly when they are disabled and cant tell someone about it.
ReplyDelete