Name: Estephany Munguia
Professor: Valerie Hall
Course: CJE3444
Date: July 19, 2020
Prevention of Elder AbusePrevention of Elder Abuse
The National Council on Aging reports that roughly 1 in 10 Americans above the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse. Unfortunately, very few such cases get reported to the authorities, meaning that the numbers could be much higher. As a person grows into old age, they become more dependent, especially in the case of mental and physical illnesses. Many elderly persons require specialized care either at home or in nursing homes. Caring for the aged is a demanding task that calls for dedication, and this proves to be quite a challenge for some caregivers. In many cases, primary caregivers happen to be family members, especially when hiring professional help is unaffordable. Cases of elder abuse are difficult to deal with as the elders, in most cases, are unable to report it. The prevention of elder abuse both at home and in care facilities involves choosing appropriate caregivers and much vigilance.
There are various kinds of elder abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial elder abuse. Neglect and abandonment also qualify as elder abuse types that can be inflicted by family members such as children and spouses or caregivers in other facilities (Alon & Berg-Warman 152) Detecting abuse requires a keen eye, and family members must be watchful to discover any abuse signs. Some of the signs of physical abuse include bruises and injuries. Emotional neglect and abuse are noticeable through withdrawal from family members, depression, and fear. Financial abuse is seen when the older adult has unexplained gaps in their finances or cannot afford basic needs. The signs of neglect include weight loss, bedsores, lack of medication, among others.
Caregivers are the primary abusers in elder abuse, and there are risk factors to look for in elder abuse. Caregivers who tend to inflict abuse have several risk factors. The first of these is if the caregiver is dependent on the elder either financially or emotionally. A caregiver who has a mental illness or substance abuse is also likely to inflict abuse upon elders they care for (Pillemer et al. 201). Financial challenges could also be frustrating for the caregiver, and they may end up abusing the person in their care. Another risk factor in caregivers is a lack of support. For example, if an adult child is left to care for an aging parent solely, they may grow frustrated and overwhelmed. Lack of training is another risk factor for caregivers caring for the aged. There are also elder risk factors that could lead to abuse, such as mental and physical illness.
Although cases of elder abuse cannot always be prevented, there are ways to lower the risk of abuse and detect any abuse already going on. The most important thing that an older adult’s family and loved ones can do is to check in on them as frequently as possible. In this way, any changes in the elder can be noticed very fast. At home, the main reasons why elder abuse occurs is when the caregiver is overworked, unreliable, or stressed. One way to prevent elder abuse at home is to keep elders engaged and connected with their community. Isolation encourages abuse, and therefore if the elder can keep interacting with their friends and community, it lowers the chances of abuse. Primary caregivers need much support, and giving them this support goes a long way in lowering the risk of elder abuse. Caring for the aged is quite consuming and requires the efforts of several people. Another way to prevent elder abuse at home is to avoid risky caregivers. For example, it is unwise to engage the services of individuals with a history of violence or substance abuse as they are more likely to inflict abuse upon the elders in their care.
Nursing homes and other care facilities for the aged are other areas of concern when it comes to elder abuse. There are several reasons why the staff at such facilities could engage in elder abuse. Some of these factors include being underpaid, overworked, and lax administrative oversight. Families and loved ones have to observe their older adults in such care facilities to prevent abuse. The most important way to do this is to be aware of the various signs of abuse, such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse (Post, et al. 328). They should also visit their loved ones as much as possible in the care facility. In case of any worrying signs of potential abuse, these should immediately be brought to the administration and investigated. Additionally, family members should be careful when choosing a nursing home for their loved one and avoid any with red flags. The nursing homes can prevent elder abuse by hiring trained staff, installing monitoring systems, and implementing robust policies for both residents and staff.
Elder abuse is a significant area of concern, given the fact that so many older adults need care as they grow old. Every person deserves to age with dignity, and those around them must do everything they can to ensure this. Unfortunately, elder abuse is a reality in many homes and care facilities around the country. Various steps should be taken to prevent elder abuse, such as finding trained caregivers and trusted nursing homes. Older adults, especially those who are sick, may not always be able to care for themselves or report cases of abuse; thus responsibility falls on their family and loved ones to look out for their welfare.
Works Cited
Alon, Sara, and Ayelet Berg-Warman. “Treatment and prevention of elder abuse and neglect: Where knowledge and practice meet—A model for intervention to prevent and treat elder abuse in Israel.” Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect 26.2 (2014): 150-171.
Pillemer, Karl, et al. “Elder abuse: global situation, risk factors, and prevention strategies.” The Gerontologist 56.Suppl_2 (2016): S194-S205.
Post, Lori, et al. “Elder abuse in long-term care: Types, patterns, and risk factors.” Research on Aging 32.3 (2010): 323-348.