Every person-every man,
woman, and child-deserves to
be treated with respect and
with caring. Every person-no
matter how young or how old-
deserves to be safe from
harm by those who live with
them, care for them, or come
in day-to-day contact with
them.
What Is Elder Abuse?
What Is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse is the infliction of
physical, emotional, or
psychological harm on an
older adult. Elder abuse also
can take the form of financial
exploitation or intentional or
unintentional neglect of an
older adult by the caregiver.
Elder abuse is the infliction of
physical, emotional, or
psychological harm on an
older adult. Elder abuse also
can take the form of financial
exploitation or intentional or
unintentional neglect of an
older adult by the caregiver.
According to the World
Health Organization, abuse
and neglect of older adults can be
a single or a repeated act. It can
occur in any relationship where
there is an expectation of trust
or where a person is in a position
of power or authority.
• Physical: includes slapping, hitting, inappropriate medication,
and physical restraint.
• Sexual: includes unwanted sexual touching or being coerced
into sexual acts.
• Emotional: includes insulting, frightening, threatening, ignoring,
or isolating a senior.
What are the Types of Elder Abuse?
What are the Types of Elder Abuse?
• Financial: includes fraud, theft, misusing money or property, or putting pressure on seniors to gain access to their funds or property.
• Violation of Rights: includes withholding information, interfering with mail, or confining a senior to an institution or hospital.
• Neglect: includes leaving seniors without food, adequate shelter, assistance, or personal care.
Who are the Victims?
• Abuse or neglect can happen
to any older adult. It can
occur in any relationship,
including one where there is
an expectation of trust or
where a person is in position
of power or authority.
Who are the Abusers?
Who are the Abusers?
• Abuse of old adults most often occurs within the
family, by spouse, children, and/or grandchildren.
However, abusers can also include friends, neighbors,
paid care providers, landlords and staff, or any individual in a position of power, trust, or
authority.
What are the Signs?
What are the Signs?
• Tell you they are being harmed
• Show signs of depression or anxiety
• Seem fearful around certain people
• Become socially withdrawn (having less contact with the people who they have been close to in the past)
• Become passive and very compliant
• Have unexplained physical injuries
• Lack food, clothing, and other necessities
• Show changes in their hygiene or nutrition
• Suddenly become unable to meet financial obligations, or have unusual withdrawals from their bank or other financial institutions
Health EffectsHealth Effects• Abuse and neglect are a major
source of stress.• The stress of abuse may trigger
chest pain or angina, and may be a factor in other serious heart problems.
• Abuse has significant impact on people at any age, but older adults can be especially vulnerable. In general, older adults have less physical strength and less physical resilience than younger persons.
• Sometimes these signs are mistaken as a part of growing older or may look like other health conditions. For example, mental confusion, depression or anxiety resulting from abuse or neglect may look like dementia.
• People may not realize that sometimes older adults are experiencing frequent falls or have long-term pain because they are being abused or neglected.
• Between 44% of abused older adults experience some level of depression. Up to 6% of abused older adults become severely depressed.
• Living with abuse and neglect can also significantly increase the person's chances of becoming ill.
• Abused or neglected older adults have 200% increased risk of early death.
Did You Know?Did You Know?
Financial EffectsFinancial Effects
•Financial abuse can have a negative impact on older
adult’s health and well-being.
•When abusers steal or control older adults’ money or other property, older
adults may have fewer resources to take care of their own health, housing,
good nutrition, and activities.
Social Effects
The effects of abuse and neglect can carry
from generation to generation.
For example, grandchildren
who witness such abuse
may come to view
negative behaviors
toward older adults
as acceptable and
perpetuate disrespect.
Why Does Abuse Happen
in Later Life?
Why Does Abuse Happen
in Later Life?
• Abuse and neglect may reflect a lack of understanding and knowledge about older adults and aging.
• Some people incorrectly feel they are entitled to an older adult’s property, simply because the person is old, or because they are helping the older adult, or because of their position in the family.
Why Do They Keep Silent?
Why Do They Keep Silent?
In many cases, the person may
be afraid of:
• What will happen to them (“Will the situation get worse?” “Will I be forced from my home?”)
• What will happen to the abuser (“Will he/she go to jail?”)
• What the neighbors, family, or community will think (“What will people say?”)
How Can We Prevent
Elder Abuse? The first and most important
step toward preventing elder
abuse is to recognize that no
one-of whatever age-should
be subjected to violent,
abusive, humiliating, or
neglectful behavior.
In addition to promoting this social attitude, positive steps include educating people
about elder abuse, increasing the availability of respite care, promoting
increased social contact and support for families with dependent older adults, and encouraging counseling and treatment to cope with personal and family problems
that contribute to abuse. Violence, abuse, and neglect toward elders are signs that
the people involved need help-immediately.
“Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee”
Exodus 20:12 (KJV).
Prayer For The Elderly Prayer For The Elderly
Remember Your people, O Lord, especially those to whom You have given the gift of long life. Reward them now for the good
they have accomplished in the past; forgive them for their failings. Make
their last days happy, and give them Your grace that they may continue to grow through the challenges of their later
years. Bring them and all Your children to everlasting life with You.
Amen.
Sources• Canadian Network for the Prevention of
Elder Abuse, “Health and Abuse.”• BC Health Files “Health Effects of Abuse
and Neglect of Older Adults.”• http://www.gov.ns.ca/scs/pubs/elderabuse/
Fact-Sheet-4-Signs-and-Effects-En.pdf• http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html• http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html
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