World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - June 15
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, 2020, recognizes the risks of elder abuse and neglect of older people. It’s a day for family and caregivers around the world to learn how to take proactive steps to protect loved ones and for older people to learn how they can defend themselves.
What is elder abuse and neglect?
Elder abuse is physical, emotional, financial, or sexual harm inflicted upon an older adult or neglect of welfare by people responsible for their care. In the United States alone, approximately 1 in 10 people aged 60-plus have experienced some form of elder abuse. Sadly, victims of elder abuse are often too physically frail or have a diminished mental capacity, which makes them unable to recognize abuse and, therefore, incapable of fighting it.
Elder abuse is most commonly perpetrated by family members, including adult children, spouses, and partners. It can also occur by a hired caregiver who is working in the older person’s home or an institutional setting, such as an assisted living facility.
What are the effects of elder abuse?
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), older people who have been abused have a 300% higher risk of death when compared to those who have not been mistreated. The exact cost of elder financial abuse and fraud to Americans is unknown but is estimated to be as much as $36.5 billion each year.
The many forms of elder abuse
Physical elder abuse involves the intentional use of force against an older adult, resulting in injury, physical pain, or impairment. This includes physical assault, hitting, shoving, and the inappropriate use of restraints and drugs.
Emotional elder abuse involves treating an older adult in a way that causes emotional or psychological pain or distress, including intimidation by threats or yelling, humiliation, constant blaming, ignoring, isolating the older person from friends or activities, and terrorizing them.
Sexual elder abuse involves any sexual contact with an older person without their consent and showing them pornographic material against their will. It also includes forcing the person to undress when unwarranted.
Elder neglect involves the failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation, such as ensuring the older person’s nutritional needs are met, appropriately dressing them, not maintaining an acceptable level of hygiene, and not meeting their medical needs. Elder neglect constitutes approximately half of all reports of elder abuse.
Financial exploitation involves the unauthorized use of an elder’s funds or property, including stealing cash, using an elder’s checks or credit cards, forging their signature, and identity theft.
Healthcare fraud and abuse involve Medicare/insurance fraud, overmedicating or under-medicating, double-billing for medical care or services, charging for healthcare services that were not rendered, and recommending fraudulent remedies.
Warning signs of elder abuse
Signs of elder abuse can be difficult to recognize since they are often mistaken for symptoms of dementia or physical frailty. If you suspect misuse, look for the following warning signs:
Unexplained injuries, such as bruises, scars, broken bones or dislocations
A report of drug overdose or failure to take medication
Signs of being restrained, such as rope marks on wrists
Caregiver’s refusal to allow you to see the older person alone
Threatening, belittling or controlling caregiver behavior
Behavior that mimics dementia, such as rocking or mumbling to themselves
Bruises around breasts or genitals
Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
Unusual weight loss or loss of appetite
Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores
Unsanitary living conditions
Being left dirty or unbathed
Unsuitable clothing or covering for the weather
Unsafe living conditions
Unexplained withdrawals from financial accounts
Sudden changes in financial condition
Suspicious changes in wills, power of attorney, titles, and policies
Addition of names to the senior’s signature card
Duplicate billings for the same medical service
Evidence of overmedication or under-medication
Preventing elder abuse and neglect
Caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed may be in danger of abusing or neglecting the older person. It’s essential to reach out for help and support as soon as the early signs of burnout appear.
Take immediate steps to relieve stress. This can include mindfulness exercises, a break from work, or just a nightly jog around the neighborhood.
Request help from friends, relatives, local respite care agencies, or an adult daycare program.
Put self-care first. An empty vessel cannot pour. Be sure to get adequate rest, eat well, tend to your own healthcare needs, and exercise regularly.
Seek help for depression from a mental health professional.
If you are not the primary caregiver of a loved one, take the following steps to prevent abuse in the hands of the person who is directly responsible for the older person’s care:
Call and visit as often as possible. This will enable you to monitor their physical condition and home environment frequently.
Offer to stay with the person so the caregiver can have a break. If possible, try to do this regularly.
Monitor medications to ensure the amounts being taken correspond with the prescription dates.
Watch for financial abuse by asking the older person if you can check their financial accounts and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
Resources and support
If you suspect elder abuse and the victim needs immediate assistance, dial 911. You can also call 1-800-677-1116 for help, or find local resources at the National Center on Elder Abuse.
For more information on elder abuse and neglect, see these links:
Administration for Community Living (ACL): Protecting Rights and Preventing
Abuse
National Center on Law & Elder Rights
USC Center on Elder Mistreatment
CFPB Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans
Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative