Our nation's elderly are men and women just like us who have lived their life to the fullest. They are not just elder adults, they are people with feelings, emotions and self respect. Unfortunately, every year hundreds of thousands of elderly adults fall victim to the abusive behaviors of their caregivers, nursing homes and even family members.
Elder abuse refers to the knowing, intentional or neglectful act by a caregiver or other adult that causes harm to the elder adult or puts them at a serious risk of harm. Elder abuse is such a common, wide-spread problem that legislatures have enacted some form of elder abuse prevention laws in all 50 states. Elder abuse occurs in various forms including:
Neglect - Failure to ensure proper hygiene, proper feeding or nutrition, healthcare, or shelter.
Physical Abuse - Restraining the elder adult such as tying them to the bed rails, squeezing them, slapping, hitting, and punching, over medicating or unnecessary sedation.
Sexual Abuse - This entails any kind of non-consensual sexual contact, or forcing the elder adult to undress, or forcing the elder adult to watch pornographic material etc.
Emotional Abuse - This can refer to any kind of humiliation, verbal threats, derogatory remarks, social isolation or intimidation.
Financial Exploitation - Stealing the elder adult's personal belongings, taking cash, writing checks for the caregiver's benefit, withdrawing money from an ATM machine, identity theft, taking out credit cards in the elder adult's name etc.
Unfortunately, due to an elder adult's vulnerability or medical conditions, they often suffer in silence. As a close friend or family member it's important to stay alert if you suspect elder abuse. Common signs of elder abuse may include: sudden unexplained weight loss, poor hygiene, unclean living quarters, unexplained bruising or restraint marks, lethargy, bruising around the inner thighs or gentiles, arguments with the staff, or any sudden or strange changes in mood or behavior.
As a family member or loved one, often times we have to put our loved one in a nursing home, extended living care facility or we have to hire a caregiver to take care of them when we no longer can. Unfortunately, elder abuse is a large problem that cannot be ignored. If you suspect anything or something doesn't feel right, you should look into the matter. Often times nursing homes are over-extended and short-staffed. As a result, their patients receive subpar care and become neglected.
Other times the elder patients are victims of downright intentional abuse. Whether they are physically harmed, sexually abused or a victim of financial exploitation, their caregiver needs to be brought to justice so no one else gets harmed by this person's unscrupulous acts. If you suspect elder abuse, contact an attorney right away. They will be able to inform you of your rights and the proper legal procedures to follow. With proper protocol, you can help your loved one become free of their abuser so they don't have to suffer anymore.
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