Essay On Elder Abuse

The Hidden Problem of Elder Abuse According to the American Psychological Association (n.d), every year, it is estimated that close to 4 million elderly Americans have been subjected to some type of physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse. Many have also been victims of neglect or exploitation by someone they depended on for care. These are just estimates because currently there are no official statistics; the last official report was published in 2005 by the National Center on Elder Abuse ("Frequently asked questions about elder abuse," n.d.). These numbers could just be the tip of the iceberg: it is also estimated that for every one case of abuse that is reported, there could be as many as 23 cases that go unreported because …show more content…
An abused elderly person will often withdraw from their normal activities; they may isolate themselves, seem fearful and show signs of depression. The abuse can be physical: an assault of any kind from hitting and slapping, to causing bruises or burns, to breaking bones or use of force to intimidate the victim ("What is Elder Abuse?," n.d.). Often, when an injury is being assessed or treated, the healthcare provider will find evidence of previous injuries that went untreated. Frequently, with physical abuse, the injuries often don’t fit the explanations given for them by the caregiver (Taylor, Lillis, LeMone & Lynn, 2011, p. …show more content…
“Elders who have been abused have a 300% higher risk of death than when compared to those who have not been abused.” ("What is Elder Abuse?," n.d.). It can be difficult to identify elder abuse because some of the indications can be misinterpreted as normal signs of aging or dementia. It is important for the healthcare provider to be knowledgeable of the signs of all the different types of abuse and to carefully observe the interactions between an elder adult and their caregiver, noting the tone the caregiver uses when speaking to the elder adult, watching to see if their demeanor is gentle and