Elder abuse is an often ignored, undiagnosed, violation of rights that can result in depression and anxiety, as well as physical symptoms ranging from slight injuries to permanent damage or death, and it has been suggested that 10% of the elderly in the United States experience some form of abuse (Dong, 2014). According to the World Health Organization, elder abuse is “a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person” (Daly, 2011). The abuse is usually intentional, but may take the form of intentional or unintentional neglect (APA, 2012). The thesis of this paper is to discuss how education is the key to detection
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Abuse may be physical, financial or material exploitation, emotional or psychological, abandonment, sexual, neglect or self-neglect. Physical abuse is the use of violence that may result in pain, injury or impairment and includes hitting, shoving, restraining, burning and inappropriate use of medications. Emotional or psychological abuse is pain or distress from verbal or non-verbal acts such as insulting comments, giving the silent treatment or name calling. Sexual abuse is non-consensual, inappropriate touching or any unwanted sexualized behavior. Financial or material exploitation is the illegal or inappropriate use of funds, property or assets, such as forgery, forced property transfers or denying access to their own funds. Abandonment is desertion by an individual who has accepted responsibility for providing care. Neglect is the failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties such as providing food, water, clothing or medications and assistance with activities of daily living. Self-neglect is behavior that threatens his/her own health or safety, such as not eating, not going to the doctor, substance abuse or compulsive hoarding (APA, 2012; Daly, 2011; Dong, 2014; Kleba, 2014; NCEA, …show more content…
There is an increased risk factor when a person has not been educated about how to balance their needs with the needs of another person. Unaware of the resources and assistance available to them, caregivers often feel trapped and hopeless without alone time that is free from the responsibility of caring for another person. The family violence that has persisted for years may continue when the abuser is in failing health and the victim now becomes the caretaker. The well-being and safety of an elder may be unintentionally threatened when the needs surpass what the family can provide (APA, 2012).
Listed in the Department of Social Work at the University of Melbourne’s (2013) key strategies for preventing abuse is the need to educate professionals about how to identify and respond to abuse. The Department also included educating elders about their rights, how to assert them and how to get support when needed. Educating the community to raise awareness of elder abuse also made their list of strategies (Department,
Abuse may be physical, financial or material exploitation, emotional or psychological, abandonment, sexual, neglect or self-neglect. Physical abuse is the use of violence that may result in pain, injury or impairment and includes hitting, shoving, restraining, burning and inappropriate use of medications. Emotional or psychological abuse is pain or distress from verbal or non-verbal acts such as insulting comments, giving the silent treatment or name calling. Sexual abuse is non-consensual, inappropriate touching or any unwanted sexualized behavior. Financial or material exploitation is the illegal or inappropriate use of funds, property or assets, such as forgery, forced property transfers or denying access to their own funds. Abandonment is desertion by an individual who has accepted responsibility for providing care. Neglect is the failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties such as providing food, water, clothing or medications and assistance with activities of daily living. Self-neglect is behavior that threatens his/her own health or safety, such as not eating, not going to the doctor, substance abuse or compulsive hoarding (APA, 2012; Daly, 2011; Dong, 2014; Kleba, 2014; NCEA, …show more content…
There is an increased risk factor when a person has not been educated about how to balance their needs with the needs of another person. Unaware of the resources and assistance available to them, caregivers often feel trapped and hopeless without alone time that is free from the responsibility of caring for another person. The family violence that has persisted for years may continue when the abuser is in failing health and the victim now becomes the caretaker. The well-being and safety of an elder may be unintentionally threatened when the needs surpass what the family can provide (APA, 2012).
Listed in the Department of Social Work at the University of Melbourne’s (2013) key strategies for preventing abuse is the need to educate professionals about how to identify and respond to abuse. The Department also included educating elders about their rights, how to assert them and how to get support when needed. Educating the community to raise awareness of elder abuse also made their list of strategies (Department,