In the United States, an unfortunate number of individuals over the age of 60 suffer from elder abuse. Statistics show that at least 10 percent of all elders have experienced some type of abuse. However, this number is thought to be a low estimate because situations involving elder abuse are largely unreported. In addition to these shocking numbers, research has also uncovered that certain individuals are more susceptible to elder abuse.
The following profiles illustrate situations that may render elders highly susceptible to abuse.
- Individual 1: Jared is an 82-year old male who lives in an assisted-living facility. Arthritis has significantly limited his mobility, so he relies heavily on his caretakers. The facility is located 50-miles from his nearest relatives, so they visit about once a month.
- Individual 2: Carol is a 75-year-old female who lives in a single story home with her 40-year-old son. Her son offered to live with her when she began suffering from occasional bouts of dementia. Aside from dementia, Carol is able-bodied.
- Individual 3: Shannon is a 78-year-old female who lives alone in a condo. In the absence of any family living close by, she hired an in-home nurse who visits each day. Shannon suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes, and her in-home nurse helps her manage her medications.
Of the above individuals, Carol is most at-risk for elder abuse, but the lives of all three contain substantial risk factors. Read on to understand more about elder abuse and the factors that put individuals like these at risk.
What Is Elder Abuse?
What is elder abuse? Simply, elder abuse is any action against an elder that exploits, takes advantage of, or harms the individual. Several categories of elder abuse exist, including:
- Physical abuse: Physical abuse involves the use of physical force against an older adult that results in injury, physical pain, or impairment.
- Sexual abuse: Any sexual contact or activity with an elder who is unable to understand is considered sexual abuse. In addition, elders may endure sexual abuse if they are unable or unwilling to consent or are threatened or physically forced to perform sexual acts.
- Emotional abuse: Threats of abuse, harassment, intimidation, or any other verbal assault qualify as emotional abuse.
- Financial exploitation: Unauthorized, improper, or illegal use of an older individual’s money, property, or other assets is considered financial exploitation.
- Neglect: Failure to provide life necessities such as food, clothing, medical care, or shelter may constitute neglect. Additionally, neglect may include exposing the individual to the risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm.
- Abandonment: Desertion of the elderly individual by someone who has physical custody or responsibility for providing care is abandonment.
Elder abuse is a particularly concerning social problem because elder abuse is often not reported. As such, the instances of elder abuse that are reported do not reflect the full scope of the problem. The failure to report also makes it hard to provide the resources that elders need to resolve instances of abuse. Older individuals may fail to report abuse for many reasons. Oftentimes, abused elders lack the mental capacity to understand or report the abuse. Others may be embarrassed about the situation or fear the potential consequences of reporting an abuser who is also a loved one. For more information on how to report elder abuse schedule a consultation with Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC today.
Instances of elder abuse are only likely to increase as the population of older individuals increases. The number of individuals over the age of 65 is expected to double by 2050 due to aging baby boomers.
What Are the Risk Factors for Elder Abuse?
While any elder may be at risk of elder abuse, certain caretakers are more likely to perpetrate elder abuse. The majority of perpetrators are adult children, most commonly adult males. Many people may assume that family members would be the most attentive caregivers; however, this is not always the case.
The second most common abusers are family members and spouses. Family members are subject to less supervision and oversight and may take advantage of the close relationships they have with the elder.
Although elders commonly know their abusers, elders in institutions and assisted-living facilities are not immune from abuse. As families are increasingly unable to provide care for their loved ones at home, institutional abuse is a rising concern. Signs that a caretaker may tend to commit elder abuse include:
- Past or current substance abuse;
- Mental or physical health problems;
- History of trouble with the police;
- Social isolation; and
- Unemployment or financial troubles.
These might seem like obvious red flags to an outsider. However, from a parent or grandparent’s perspective, they may seem to be the perfect candidate to assist with care. The elder may assume the individual will be grateful for the opportunity to stay in a home rent-free.
Some factors increase the likelihood that an older adult will be taken advantage of. Particularly susceptible individuals include:
- Women;
- Those without close relatives or who are otherwise socially isolated;
- Those suffering from cognitive impairments;
- Those with disabilities or physical weakness; or
- Those who are financially unstable.
With a better understanding of the risk factors for elder abuse, it should be clear why Carol has the highest risk of abuse. She is a woman, is cared for by a male adult child, and suffers from dementia. This doesn’t mean that Jared or Shannon are not at risk; the risk is simply lower than Carol’s.
Addressing Concerns About Elder Abuse
Signs that someone you love may suffer from elder abuse include:
- Difficulty sleeping,
- Depression or confusion,
- Weight loss,
- Agitation or uncharacteristic violence,
- Lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed,
- Significant or sudden financial transactions,
- Unexplained physical markings such as bruises or burns,
- Messy physical appearance, and
- Development of bedsores or other preventable conditions.
The first step to addressing the problem is by discussing your suspicions directly with the older person. Make sure you understand the resources available to abused elders and help them understand who they can trust. Organizations like the National Institute on Aging and the National Center on Elder Abuse can help you identify local resources. Avoid confronting the abuser directly.
If the situation necessitates legal action against the perpetrator of the abuse, contact a licensed attorney with experience in elder and nursing home abuse and neglect. An attorney can help you understand your options for moving forward.
