Elder Abuse And The Effect On Families

Elder mistreatment or senior abuse is the term used by the American Psychological Association to describe the mental, psychological, physical or financial abuse of an elderly person or senior citizen. As aging makes the elderly physically weak and vulnerable to ill treatment, it is imperative that people are educated about the signs of elder abuse.

Significance
Senior abuse can take place in the senior's own home, the caregiver's home, or a nursing facility. As per the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) in the US about 10 per cent of senior citizens are ill-treated, but hardly 20 per cent of these cases get reported. This is the reason that there is very little awareness on this topic.

Features
According to the Helpguide.org, 500,000 cases of elder abuse are reported every year. It has been found that caregivers or other family members are often perpetrators of abuse or are witnesses to the abuse of an elderly person. More often than not caregivers become abusers as they may find the task of looking after an elderly person exhausting, stressful and demanding.

Signs
Senior citizens hardly if ever speak about their abuse or ill-treatment to others. That is why it is all the more imperative that their relatives are aware of the signs of abuse. Some of these signs are strained relationship with the caregiver, weight loss, social withdrawal, inadequate hygiene, and untreated physical injuries, bruises and abrasions. Use of threats, ridicule and abusive language to keep control over an elderly person by a caregiver is another main sign of elder abuse.

Effects
The effects of ill-treatment of an elderly person on their relatives can be seen at two levels. People, who are both caregivers and abusers, are often torn between remorse, regret, anger and guilt. Abusers often feel guilt because they are unable to control their abusive tendencies despite the knowledge that they are wrong. At the second level are the other relatives, who later learn of the abuse after an injury or sometimes death of the elderly person. It is generally a feeling of grief or anger at the mishap.

Prevention
Elderly abuse can be prevented if both the elderly citizens and their family members follow a few preventive measures. The NCEA suggests that senior citizens should ensure that they begin thinking about a health plan early on to prevent incidences of abuse. Furthermore, taking part in social activities in senior centers will prevent social isolation, and reduce the possibility of abuse. At the same time, family members are advised to get involved in the lives of their elderly relatives. It is also advisable that they get educated about elder abuse, so that they are equipped to handle the issue should the need arise.