Physical Effects Of Elder Abuse

The issue of elder abuse and neglect is a significant health care issue, that need to be brought to the attention of society. Seniors who stay at home or in nursing homes are at more risk. Nurses should be aware of the signs and symptoms as well as resources in the community. By having a better understanding of these issues, nurses can recognize problems and help prevent the devastating effects of elderly abuse.

Informal care is unpaid care that may be provided by family, friends or neighbours. (Brodsky, Habib and Hirschfield, 2003) state “Informal Care is by far the dominant form of care throughout the world.” This essay will state how important informal care is in modern society and how this has affected current social policy. It will define what the differences are between informal and formal care, what exactly informal care consists of, what a carer is, include statistics about informal carers, explain what the mixed economy of care means and conclude the importance of informal care in society.

Sexual abuse refers to sexual contact of any kind without permission neglect is not providing food, health care, shelter or anything needed to live for vulnerable elder persons. Illegal taking or misuse of the elder’s property is called exploitation. Emotional abuse is the humiliation, threatening, or insulting (verbally or nonverbally) of an elder. Deserting of a vulnerable elder by a person who is responsible for them is called abandonment.

There are many broad and different definitions of elder abuse, and different forms and ways to deal with it. Elder abuse consists of “intentional or neglectful acts of a caregiver, family member, friend, or other individuals that lead to, or may lead to, harm of a senior citizen” (Elder Abuse Facts, 2016). One of the biggest problems we face when looking at this policy is that elder harm and abuse can happen practically anywhere. Elder abuse can happen in a private setting; in their own homes committed by their own family members (Help Guide, 2014, p.1). But it can also happen in a care center, with lots of people living in close proximity to them.

One way elder abuse or elder mistreatment can be defined is, “intentional actions that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm, whether or not intended, to a vulnerable elder by a caregiver or other person who stands in a trust relationship to the elder” (Bonnie & Wallace). There are seven main forms of elder abuse which include emotional, physical, psychological, sexual, financial, neglect, abandonment, and self-neglect (Cohen, Levin, Gagin & Friedman, 2007; Fulmer, 2008; Thompson & Priest, 2005). Even though only 6.2% of victims are abused in long-term care settings, my experience of witnessing neglect and abandonment are very serious (Teaster et al., 2006).

Roberto and Mancini (2009) states, “Informal care is generally provided by untrained social network members known as family or friends which generally takes place in the home of either the caregiver or the care recipient. Informal caregivers also play an important role in long-term care settings where they offer companionship, emotional support, and assistance with daily activities (e.g., feeding, bathing etc)”.

Each year there is an estimated 4 million elderly Americans that are victims of physical, psychological, or abused in other ways (Elder Abuse and Neglect: In Search of Solutions. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/guides/elder-abuse.aspx). There are some cases that get reported to the proper authorities and some cases that do not get reported at all. For the abused elderly people, their lives are put at risk and their health also declines. They feel helpless and lonely and have increased psychological distress and research has suggested that these victims die earlier than those who have not been abused (Elder Abuse and Neglect: In Search of Solutions. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/guides/elder-abuse.aspx).

Neglect by the caregiver to accord services such as medicine, supervision, clothing, and shelter to an elder in a nursing home setting is regarded as psychological abuse. There have been cases where caregivers have neglected patients who are bedridden. Elders have also been denied regular baths by caregivers. There have been reports where patients who request for a two-person transfer are accorded a person transfer by the caregiver. Not providing toiletry services in time by the caregivers to the elder 's is also regarded as psychological abuse. There have been reports where caregivers refuse to turn off a call light and when requested to do so by the elders in the nursing home setting, they decline. The involuntary seclusion of elders by the caregivers is an example of psychological abuse that happens in the nursing home setting. In the Baltimore community, it has been documented that most of the psychological abuse perpetrated against elders in the nursing home setting is done by caregivers (Kohn et al., 2015).

Elder abuse is linked to significant health issues, such as increased morbidity and premature mortality (Baker, Francis, Hairi, Othman, & Choo, 2016). Another type of maltreatment of older people is neglect, which is defined as a lack of action by a caregiver required to meet the needs of an older adult, such as withholding medications or medical treatment, and not providing adequate food, clothing, shelter, or hygiene (“County of Riverside,”

To better understand the scope of the problem, it is crucial that society knows what is considered as elder abuse and why it is important to resolve this issue. Elder abuse refers to any intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. There are many forms in which an elder can be abused, “Elder Abuse and Neglect” Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services distinguishes between the five most common types of elder abuse as well as their effects and/or common signs and symptoms for each. These types of abuse include physical abuse,

Each year thousands of individuals are abused and neglected including elderly persons. Many have stated that because of their age, frailness leaves them vulnerable to society. The majority depends on their caregiver to meet their basic need because they cannot help themselves. According to the 1985 Elder Abuse Prevention, Identification and Treatment Act, elderly abuse is defined as “willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or cruel punishment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental anguish or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of goods or services which are necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness”. Most definitions are needs oriented and substitute the terms abuse and neglect to the inability of the caretakers’ to meet the elderly basic needs or maltreatment of elderly adults. This definition is less criminally oriented.

This is where the elder mistreatment and abuse comes into place, it has been known through various research that caregivers mistreat elders because of multiple factors, one being stress. Caregivers become too stressed and start to hurt the elders when they think the elder is only doing thing out of pity or wanting of attention, therefore, abusing the elder is their way of teaching them which ways to behave. Another reason could be because the caregiver becomes frustrated with the older adult when their conditions become worse, and the dependence is expected more from the caregivers. Sometimes the mistreatment of abuse goes unnoticed for several months or even years since the caregiver may potentially cover it up with more layers of clothes and even

Unfortunately, institutional elder abuse and neglect in this country is on the rise, and almost every day incidents of abuse and neglect are reported. According to Statistics, 10% of nursing home residents are abused, 90% of nursing homes are understaffed, 1 in 3 nursing homes have been cited for abuse, and only 1 in 5 incidents are actually reported. Abuse in a nursing home might occur because an elder is cared for in an institution that lacks proper resources. The staff may have little or no training, the institution may be understaffed, and the working conditions are

According to Elder Abuse and Neglect, physical abuse to elders is when you hurt elders physically. Sometimes physical abuse could be a result of scars, bruises, and another type of marks that you could see through elders skins. “Physical abuse can also be an inappropriate

Elder Abuse is defined as any activity performed by an individual whereby these actions cause suffering of the older adult, intentionally or not (Touhy, Jett, Boscart & McCleary, 2012, p. 378). Unfortunately, the incidents of elder abuse continue to rise with the increasing number of people entering older adulthood. It is interesting to note that although elder abuse is highly under reported its occurrence increased three fold over a ten-year period (Friese & Collopy, 2010, p. 61). Certainly, it is a nurse’s duty to provide holistic care to his or her patients, which must include protection from abuse. Elder abuse can take on many forms including physical, emotional, sexual, neglect and financial. It is important to note that for the