Financial exploitation of our elder society continues to reach epidemic proportions. It is a form of elder abuse that often goes under-reported or ignored. We need to educate and train our professionals and concerned citizens. We need to generate new laws and regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of our elders. As of 2013, 44.7 million people were 65 years or older. This amounts to 14.1% of the population, or 1 in 7 Americans.
When we think of abuse we often don’t realize that there are many forms the abuse can take. It may not be as obvious as cuts, bruises, a black eye, or a fat lip. Elder abuse is often under reported, ignored, or it is assumed that it is someone else’s responsibility to detect and report the alleged abuse. There …show more content…
A caregiver may no longer be allowing anyone to visit the elder, or allowing anyone to visit the elder alone. There may also be some more subtle signs. These may include the elder’s glasses or frames being broken, a sudden change in behavior, or the elder not wanting to be alone with the caregiver. Prescription medication that runs out to quickly or prescription medication that isn’t being administered as directed. There are also opportunities when the elder may directly tell you that he or she is being physically harmed.
Another form of elder abuse can take the form of sexual abuse when the victim of sexual abuse is being victimized by a spouse, a relative or other caregiver. Sexual abuse is described as contact that is not agreed to by the elder ranging from unwanted touching, and all types of non-consensual physical contact. The victims of such abuse are often traumatized, and embarrassed to tell anyone, or report it to a medical provider. It may not come to light until the victim needs treatment for an infection, sexually transmitted disease, or unusual dental …show more content…
The elder may become withdrawn and not wanting to interact with others. The elder’s behavior may become unusual they may rock, suck, or bite. These behaviors are often confused with symptoms of dementia.
A scenario may also be a caregiver threatening not to take the elder to medical appointments if the elder doesn’t allow them to use their vehicle. The caregiver may start out by asking to borrow the vehicle because they are in a pinch, and that one time assistance turns into, repeated unauthorized use, and often times the vehicle registration and title paperwork is transferred into the caregivers name essentially giving the caregiver actually ownership of the vehicle. Neglect can also take form in various ways. This could be withholding medical care, not bringing the elder to his or her appointments, not giving the elder his or her medication as prescribed, or stealing medication from the elder for personal use. The caregiver may not feed the elder on any type of routine, or schedule. The caregiver may also withhold heat, cooling, water, or electricity creating an unsafe living environment. If the elder is subjected to poor living conditions such as fleas, lice, soiled bedding and clothing and withholding basic hygienic needs from the elder
When we think of abuse we often don’t realize that there are many forms the abuse can take. It may not be as obvious as cuts, bruises, a black eye, or a fat lip. Elder abuse is often under reported, ignored, or it is assumed that it is someone else’s responsibility to detect and report the alleged abuse. There …show more content…
A caregiver may no longer be allowing anyone to visit the elder, or allowing anyone to visit the elder alone. There may also be some more subtle signs. These may include the elder’s glasses or frames being broken, a sudden change in behavior, or the elder not wanting to be alone with the caregiver. Prescription medication that runs out to quickly or prescription medication that isn’t being administered as directed. There are also opportunities when the elder may directly tell you that he or she is being physically harmed.
Another form of elder abuse can take the form of sexual abuse when the victim of sexual abuse is being victimized by a spouse, a relative or other caregiver. Sexual abuse is described as contact that is not agreed to by the elder ranging from unwanted touching, and all types of non-consensual physical contact. The victims of such abuse are often traumatized, and embarrassed to tell anyone, or report it to a medical provider. It may not come to light until the victim needs treatment for an infection, sexually transmitted disease, or unusual dental …show more content…
The elder may become withdrawn and not wanting to interact with others. The elder’s behavior may become unusual they may rock, suck, or bite. These behaviors are often confused with symptoms of dementia.
A scenario may also be a caregiver threatening not to take the elder to medical appointments if the elder doesn’t allow them to use their vehicle. The caregiver may start out by asking to borrow the vehicle because they are in a pinch, and that one time assistance turns into, repeated unauthorized use, and often times the vehicle registration and title paperwork is transferred into the caregivers name essentially giving the caregiver actually ownership of the vehicle. Neglect can also take form in various ways. This could be withholding medical care, not bringing the elder to his or her appointments, not giving the elder his or her medication as prescribed, or stealing medication from the elder for personal use. The caregiver may not feed the elder on any type of routine, or schedule. The caregiver may also withhold heat, cooling, water, or electricity creating an unsafe living environment. If the elder is subjected to poor living conditions such as fleas, lice, soiled bedding and clothing and withholding basic hygienic needs from the elder