Essay On Institutional Abuse

Two organizations have highlighted the concern of elder abuse. They believe the elderly should be educated in how to protect themselves from financial abuse. The elderly are constantly relying on others to help them with their finances when they

The ramifications of elder abuse are serious and varied. Although physical abuse is often talked about, emotional, sexual, verbal and financial abuse are also prevalent. Elder abuse differs from other forms of abuse mainly because many seniors also have financial assets. These assets which may include homes, bank accounts and credit cards make seniors easy prey to unscrupulous and dishonest people. On many occasions seniors fall victim to individuals that they trust and need to continue to live in their homes. These people may be their children, grandchildren, other family members or hired caregivers. This abuse can go unnoticed because the senior no longer goes out into community on a regular basis. They may have lost many friends and associates

When you talk about elder abuse what do you think about? Physical or mental abuse? Well when people send their parents or family members to the nursing home they think that they are sending them to the best place possible to live out the rest of their life(s). They think that they will get the best care ever that they, the family members, can’t provide. Them being bathed, fed and kept company by the employees. What people don’t know is that there is a lot of abuse going around the homes. From the employees abusing the residents to the residents abusing each other. Not all nursing homes have people that abuse their residents but most of them do. Think of it being your mom or dad. They are getting abused everyday because the employees are either

“Financial abuse and/or exploitation means any act which involves the misuse/abuse of patient’s funds and/or assets.” (p.16) An example of this would be: if a family member stole money from a grandparent’s account without their knowledge. Another type of abuse is physical abuse, Canadian nursing home journal (2006) defines it as: “Physical abuse is defined as any act of violence or rough treatment causing injury, physical discomfort or pain to a patient or resident.” (p.16) An example of this abuse could be leaving an incontinent elderly person in soiled clothing for a long period of time. It could also mean something extreme such as punching, kicking or pushing an elderly person. The last form of abuse this is defined by Canadian nursing home (2006) is emotional abuse which is: “Emotional abuse is defined as any act which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, or self-worth of the patient.”

While caring for elderly most time caregivers tend to illegal or improperly exploit and use the funds of their patient; this denote financial abuse. Theft, fraud, and taking advantage of a cognitively impaired older person for profit or personal gain also constitute as financial abuse. Financial abuse of the elderly tends to occur overtime rather than a single, overt act such as robbery, purse snatching, or carjacking.

One of the very first steps that should be taken is for an agreed-upon definition of elder maltreatment to be put into place. This definition should include specifics on the different forms of abuse, clarify different severities of abuse, as well as common signs of abuse. Because a common form of maltreatment is financial exploitation, a policy should also be set in place that says nobody, including family members and friends, can have access to the patient’s financial accounts unless the patient gives explicit permission at a time when he or she is in sound mind, which should be confirmed by a doctor. Otherwise, all assets should remain frozen until the patient recovers or passes away, which would then leave the issue in the hands of the patient’s lawyer. In order to prevent any physical, verbal, psychological, or sexual abuse a new policy should be set in place to ensure the safety of the elder that requires family members housing an elder to report it to a special agency. The sole purpose of this agency would be to periodically send social workers on announced as well as some unannounced home visits to make sure the family is taking proper care of their elder. The agency would also send a nurse to the house to check the health of the elder in an attempt to relieve some of the stress of the family. This would

Bagshaw, D., Wendt, S., Zannettino, L., & Adams, V. (2012). Financial abuse of older people by family members: Views and experiences of older Australians and their family members. Australian Social Work, 66(1), 86-103. doi: 10.1080/0312407x.2012.708762

•Financial abuse: Utilizing somebody's cash, property or different resources wrongfully or constraining somebody to change their will or sign records. It can extend from abuse of a more established relative's assets to misappropriation. Budgetary misuse incorporates misrepresentation, taking cash under falsifications, imitation, constrained property exchanges, acquiring costly things with the more seasoned individual's cash without their insight or authorization, or denying the more established individual access to his or her own subsidizes or home.

Patient abuse or neglect is any action or failure to act which causes unreasonable suffering, misery or harm to the patient. It includes physically striking or sexual assaulting a patient. It also includes with holding of necessary food, physical care, and medical attention. Available data from State Adult Protective Services (APS) agencies show an increasing trend in the reporting of elder abuse.

It is down founding that cognitive people who are capable to making the right choices in a proper manner can take advantage of elderly individuals. These elderly individuals have gone through hardship to protect their own children and their own children to be verbally and physically abusive to them it is sad. It is crazy family members are capable of elderly abuse because they are unable to protect themselves. This type of abuse kill their moral and desire to live. Elder abuse doesn’t just affect the individuals’ safety but it cause mental illness. I think financial and material exploitation in elderly is one thing that happens more often than society would like to accept. Also, people feeling like their elderly mother or father is a burden

This type of neglect may involve a “deliberate withdrawal of health services, food or other necessities” (Meadows, 200, p.88). In some ways older people seem like the perfect targets for abuse, due to their relative weakness. Active neglect may be utilized for exploitation purposes, like trying “to cash in on a life insurance policy” (Meadows, 2010, p.88). Caring for elders that are very ill or incapacitated can be daunting and become burdensome. This is when a situation may spiral out of control and lead to a passive neglect situation. Today, with the increase in life span, it only widens the opportunity for an increase in elderly victimization (Meadows, 2010). This victimization is not limited to family caregivers, it also includes institutions.

Replacing lost assets is generally not a viable option for retired individuals or individuals with physical or mental disabilities. Also, because of their age, the elderly will have less time to recoup their losses. They are often solely dependent on their savings to meet subsequent expenses and needs. A depletion of assets usually results in a loss of independence and security for the elder person. Such abuse makes the elder person become dependent on family members, inducing or adding to their financial burden and stress. And thus declines their quality of life. Financial abuse results in a loss of trust in others. There is also increase of fear which leads to changes in lifestyle and emotional well-being. Victims may also experience a loss of confidence in their own financial abilities, stress, and isolation from family or friends. Financial abuse may lead to depression, hopelessness, or even

71). Physical abuse is any intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person by bodily contact. Physical abuse signs can be manifested internally, externally, or both (Gosselin, 2014, p. 47). Burning, pushing or shoving, slapping, and shocking as well as using physical restraints and weapons or objects, such as a knife or firearm are just a few examples of external signs of physical abuse. Internal physical abuse signs are manifested through fractures or broken bones, dislocations, other injuries and health problems. The consequences of physical abuse are detrimental to a woman’s long-term health. Women who experience domestic violence are more likely to suffer form cervical cancer, compared to men (Alejo, 2014, p. 12). Psychological abuse, also known as mental abuse, on the other hand, is an intentional act made by exposing a person to behaviors that may result in any psychological trauma that includes anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Some examples of the signs and symptoms of psychological abuse are

Now let’s explore what these types of abuse are so we may fully comprehend them. Physical Abuse is inflicting physical pain or injury on an elder. It is also the second most common form of abuse. Some examples being: slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical or chemical means. Also, improperly restraining or drugging an elderly person is also considered a form of physical abuse (Angela, 1999-2011). Lastly depriving or forcing as elderly person to eat or drink is considered Physical Abuse.

Financial abuse of an elder is defined as illegally or improperly using the elderly person’s assets or other property. This may include forging their signature, taking cash from the elder, signing the elder’s checks, coercing the elderly person to sign a document they do not understand, stealing their possessions or money, and improperly using the benefits of being their power of attorney, guardian or conservator ("Understanding Elder Abuse," 2017). Signs and symptoms include using the elderly person’s ATM card without permission, disappearance of the elder’s possessions or funds, including the caregiver’s name on the elderly person’s bank card, the elderly person reporting financial exploitation and relatives who suddenly start reappearing who start claiming rights to the