Elder Abuse as a Serious Health and Social Problem - Essay Example

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA, defines elder abuse as “intentional actions that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm (whether or not harm is intended) to a vulnerable elder by a caregiver or another person who stands in a trusted relationship to the elder.” The American Psychological Association found that every year, an estimated 4 million older Americans are victims of abuse and neglect and most of it (95%) occurs at home perpetrated by spouses, adult children, relatives, family members, and paid caregivers (APA, 2014).

Although her son Simon has taken over the responsibility of taking care of her, this does not prevent the abuse as research shows that most abuse is perpetrated by family members and to make matters worse, he abuses prescription medications. There are various types of elder abuse according to APA (2014) and (NCEA 2014): physical; verbal, emotional, or psychological; sexual; financial, or exploitation, and neglect. Physical abuse occurs through hitting, kicking, shoving, physical restraints, and other m, methods that cause injury to the victim.

Warning signs include bruises, burns, broken bones, and repeated unexplained injuries. Verbal, emotional, or psychological abuse involves name-calling, threats, intimidation, and disrespectful comments that cause fear or emotional distress to the victim. Warning signs of this abuse include unusual depression, uncommunicative, unreasonably suspicious or unexplained, ned changes in behavior. Sexual abuse involves inappropriate touching, touching act, or rape and, can be recognized if the victim has bruises on breasts or genital areas or unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Financial abuse is in the form of fraud, forgery, identity theft, home improvement scams, and predator,ry lending (California Department of Justice, 2014). For such elders, their life circumstances do not match their financial assets, there are unusual bank activities like ATM withdrawals. Neglect may not be intentional but a result of a lack of training and skills and involves denial of food, shelter and clothing, and proper, medical attention. Ms. Sanders and other elders are vulnerable to elder abuse due to psychological, social and economic,c factors.

First, she is alone with her son and hence vulnerable to abuse. Elder people need the care of different persons to minimize the risk of abuse (APA, 2014). Those with dementia and cognitive impairment place a burden on caregivers leading to stress and abuse hence they are at high risk. According to NCEA statistics, 5.1 million victims suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's disease and a study in 2009 revealed that close to 50% of victims had dementia. Some are vulnerable as a result of domestic violence growing old; that is, it has been going on for long hence spouses comprise most abusers (NCEA, 2014).

The personal problems of abusers also make the elders vulnerable. For example, if the caregiver is dependent on the elder for support like Simon he can subject the elder to abuse. Mental illness of the caregiver as well as drug and alcohol abuse puts the elder at the mercy of the caregiver hence they are at high risk of abuse (NCEA statistics, 2014). This is the case with Ms. Sanders who has a son who abuses prescription drugs. Living with others and social isolation also puts elders at risk of abuse. According to NCEA statistics, 90% of abusers are family members but what causes them to abuse elders?

Most abusers are drug and alcohol abusers and hence are unable to control their impulses when angry leading to abuse (NCEA, 2014). Abusers also suffer from personal problems such as stress, mental or emotional illness. In this case, the risk of abuse increases if an elder is sick hence Ms. Sanders should be wary of his son. Caregivers' dependency on the elder also makes the caregiver a potential abuser by financially exploiting the old person or being resentful. Family stressors also characterize abusers.

If there has been a history of violence in the family, then adult children are at risk of being abusers in retaliation. This is especially so if the caregiver shares the home with the elder (NCEA, 2014). Societal or cultural issues also cause people to be abusers. This is especially so in a society that does not value the elders and the belief that such issues are family matters hence no need to intervene. If an elder feels that the caregiver is being abusive, he or she can seek help from Adult Protective Services (APS).

The APS will receive and investigate the allegation and offer appropriate safety measures. The elder should also talk to someone such as her doctor or clergy about it. Those who can report the abuse according to the California Department of Justice (2014, p. 21) include physicians or medical professionals, clergy, and employees of healthcare facilities such as hospitals and residential care facilities. The California law in 1998 mandated the APS agencies to provide 24-hour, 7-day-a-week hotline services to address abuse.

They can also call Eldercare Locator (800) 677-1116 or the national domestic violence hotline (800) 799-7233, TDD (800) 787-3224.