March 15, 2007
Elder Abuse is a Crime - by Rachelle Zukerman, Ph.D.
Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse. That is a modest estimate. Experts say that for every reported case, there are at least five more cases that do not come to the attention of authorities.
Although we periodically learn of shocking and horrific accounts of abuse in nursing homes, most cases of abuse take place in private homes, not in institutions. The victims are typically women over age 74 who are living with their abuser. Elders who are frail, disabled, depressed or sick are particularly at risk. Their abusers are often spouses, children, siblings, other relatives or caregivers who are paid to come into the home to provide care.
Wherever it occurs, elderly victims tend to suffer silently, believing that if they tell anyone about what they are enduring, unpleasant consequences will surely follow, such as:
- They will lose the care they depend on.
- The abuse will get worse.
- No one will believe them.
- “Nothing will be done anyway.”
- They will experience shame and embarrassment.
What is abuse?
Simply put, elder abuse is the infliction of physical, psychological, emotional, or verbal harm on an older person. Elder abuse also includes financial exploitation and neglect.
Physical abuse includes hitting, kicking, pinching and rough handling. It also covers over-medicating and physically restraining the elder.
Although not usually life-threatening, “mental suffering” (caused by emotional and psychological abuse) can be the most damaging to elders. This form of abuse includes
- Name-calling
- Giving the “silent treatment” as punishment
- Insults
- Threats
- Teasing
- Isolation from others
Financial or fiduciary abuse is frequently, but not exclusively, perpetrated by family members. It includes:
- Misuse of the elder’s funds
- Forgery
- Forced property transfers
- Using the elder’s money to buy expensive goods without the older person’s permission
- Improper use of legal guardianship arrangements
- Not allowing the older person to have access to his or her money
- Scams of all sorts
Neglect (intentional or unintentional) is the most common form of abuse found in nursing facilities. Examples include:
- Allowing the elder to have soiled or inappropriate clothing, an unshaven appearance, dirty or broken fingernails, and unwashed hair (which can lead to loss of dignity and despair)
- Not assisting with eating and drinking (which leads to malnutrition and dehydration)
- Not assisting with personal hygiene (which leads to offensive odor and social isolation, oral infections and skin breakdown)
- Positioning or turning the elder’s body incorrectly or not at all (which leads to limb contractures and bedsores)
- Ignoring call lights, buzzers, and cries for help
- Not assisting with walking and range of motion exercises (which leads to loss of mobility)
Reporting Suspicions of Abuse
Should you suspect abuse or neglect or an elder tells you about it, as soon as possible, put every detail and all dates down in writing. States vary on abuse reporting requirements and procedures. However, each state has a service designated to receive and investigate allegations of elder abuse. The Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) is a federal agency that will provide a referral to the proper agency for the area that the elder lives in.
Reporting suspicions of elder abuse and neglect to the appropriate authority will begin an investigation and may save a person’s life or at least bring a halt to their suffering.
Rachelle Zukerman, Ph.D. is author of Eldercare for Dummies and Professor Emeritus at UCLA. Dr. Zukerman provides litigation support and consultation on elder abuse and standards of care in Skilled Nursing Facilities and other institutions which provide health care and housing to elderly individuals. Dr. Zukerman can be contacted at 818-313-8622 or DrRZuk@aol.com.
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