Elderly Abuse: a Continuing Reality - Dissertation Example

?Elderly Abuse: A Continuing Reality Introduction Developments in medical technology and pharmaceutical industry have led to better approach in addressing health issues and concerns. Progress in these areas results not only in better management of diseases, but it has efficiently contributed to the longer life-span of people in the contemporary period (Ballyn 2008). In this regard, increase in the population of people whose age is 65 and beyond is ascribed mainly to these developments (Nerenberg 2008). As such, the reality of growing old, a part of the cycle of life, has become an actuality in the recent time (Megret 2010). However, the process of ageing is approached with anxiety and fear by many (Ballyn 2008). The trepidation associated with ageing results from the truism that as a person gets older, one comes closer to death, which is “a taboo subject for many society and among most young people” (Ballyn 2008, p. 84). Nonetheless, fear and apprehension towards ageing are not enough to justify one of the serious concerns being faced by the elderly – abuse. Elderly abuse is the general term that is used to describe “certain types of harm inflicted to older adults” (McBride 2011, p. 353). This problem has a significant consequence to the health and well-being of the older adult, thus, diminishing the quality of life of the elderly (Ballyn 2008; Lachs and Pillemer 2004; McBride 2011; Nerenberg 2008). Elderly abused is also called ‘granny battering’, ‘elder mistreatment’, ‘abuse and later life’, and ‘abuse of older adults’ (McBride 2011). These different terms have contributed to the seeming vagueness that is inherent in the term ‘elderly abuse’. However, UK Charity on Elder Abuse (AEA) has provided an unambiguous definition of the term, thus, assisting in the clarification of the idea. According to AEA, elderly abuse is “a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person” (AEA as cited in McBride 2011, p 353). This definition has been adopted both by World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). In other words, elderly abuse is ‘intentionally’ causing the older adults harm. Unfortunately, the problem of elderly abuse is not an isolated case. Tens of thousands and possibly increasing to hundreds of thousands of older adults in the UK are suffering from this crime (Donnelly 2008). In 2012, BBC documentary showed an 80 year old lady who is suffering from Alzheimer disease being manhandled by the carers (www.guardian.co.uk). There was also the case of an elderly woman who was sexually molested by the volunteer worker who was assigned to take care of her (Ballyn 2008). These are only some of the cases. There are a lot more which are, more often, undocumented even hidden. This scenario continues despite the fact there are many legislation covering elderly abuse. Some of these are Scotland Act of 1968, The Mental health Act of 2003, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act, and European Convention on Human Rights, UN Principles for Older Persons, and other similar legislation are currently enforced to ensure the safety of the elderly. Nonetheless, the ‘hidden crime’ of elderly abuse continues. In light of this, the study will address the question why is it that there is still elderly abuse despite the unrelentless effort of curbing it? This study is of importance, not only due to the timeliness of the issue, but more so because elderly abuse denies dignity and respect befitting to older adults who are human beings and whose humanity need not be ascertained. As human persons, they deserve dignity and respect until the end of their lives and as such, understanding why elderly abuse continues will assist in addressing this issue. Secondary materials have been searched and analysed in order to answer the primary question of the study. In the end, identification of the possible reasons behind the continued perpetuation of the hidden crime of elderly abuse can help build better approaches in addressing the issue. The Hidden Crime of Elderly Abuse and Some of its Underlying Reasons Although elderly abuse has been given a definition in which it may be understood, nonetheless, elderly abuse is still deemed as vague because it covers a wide array of categories and a number of possible perpetrators of elderly abuse (McBride 2011). Abuse of older adults is divided into five subcategories. There is a possibility that an older adult may be subjected to a combination of these abuses and it may occur in various settings. The five subcategories are physical abuse, psychological and emotional abuse, financial abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse (Lachs and Pellimer 2004; McBride 2011; Perel-Levin 2005). Physical abuse may occur in the form of slapping, hitting, force-feeding, restraints and kicking while psychological and emotional abuse may appear in the form of verbal threats, social exclusion, humiliation, and isolation. Financial abuse is done by coercing the older adult to transfer his/her property, thief of money or forcible entry in the elderly’s property. Sexual abuse comes in the form of touching, forced sexual activity, suggestive talks, and other similar acts. Finally, neglect is deemed as any acts of the caregiver, whether intentional or unintentional, that fails to meet and ensure that the elderly will continue to experience a quality life (Perel-Levin 2005; McBride 2011). In addition, these abuses may be committed by family members, neighbours, caregivers, carers, volunteer workers, friend, relatives, member or staff in the home, or even somebody from the home itself (Ballyn 2008). In this sense, elderly persons are further vulnerated by the fact that their age and condition makes them susceptible to various kinds and forms of abuses. The family home and the Home are the two environments wherein elderly persons reside. It will serve as the distinguishing factor in identifying the probable reasons in committing elderly abuse. This distinction is made on the supposition that family home and the Institution (Home) may have peculiar reasons in lieu of the relationship the elderly person may have with the carers or caregivers, the context, dynamics and as such giving rise to distinct causes of abuse (Lachs and Pellimer 2004). Domestic Setting: The Family Home One of the cited reasons behind elderly abuse is the long-term relationship of the elderly with the family members or carers (McBride 2011). It has been claimed that when the elderly has a good relationship with the family, abuse is rarely an issue. However, when there is a long standing ill-feelings towards the older adult, children and other family members, the negative feelings due to poor relationship may be vented it out when the elderly is incapacitated due to illnesses or old age (Ballyn 2008; McBride 2011). Another given reason is the mental capacity of the caregiver (McBride 2011). When the care giver is suffering from mental illness or disease, then, the elderly is subjected to various forms of abuse. Poverty is another reason that is often cited for the neglect of the elderly. Children or other family members are themselves financially and materially incapable of providing for themselves, and they cannot care for the older adult. In this situation, the family members neglect the needs of the older adult because they have to look for means to survive. Alcohol misuse of the perpetrator places the older adult at higher risk being abuse (Lachs and Pellimer 2004). Another reason given is when the family member who is the carer of the elderly is dependent on the older adult being cared there is an increased chance that the elderly is being abused (Lachs and Pellimer 2004). Likewise, it has been observed that patients or older adults who demonstrate aggressive behaviour may cause the carers to be stressed out, and this may result into abuse. Since, the carer retaliates to the elderly, and it causes abuse (Lachs and Pellimer 2004) Although these reasons provide a framework in which to understand elderly abuse at home, nonetheless, it fails to provide sufficient and necessary grounds for committing elderly abuse. As such, it has been inferred that there is no one particular determinative factor that will ascertain that the carer will harm the elderly. The above mentioned identified reasons are, in effect, considered as factors that increase the likelihood that the older adult maybe subjected to mistreatment. This is maintained on the premise that studies vary in their results (Lachs and Pellimer 2004). However, this scenario opens the opportunity for more studies and discussions on the issue of elderly abuse as profiling possible perpetrators of elderly abuse is still ambiguous. Institutional Setting: Nursing Homes and Similar Care Institutions Lachs and Pellimer (2004) argue that minimal studies have been conducted regarding the issue of elderly abuse in care institutions and that existing empirical studies lack the credibility necessary in ascertaining its findings. Despite this, there are some identified factors that help determine the reasons behind why carer from an institution may subject to abuse an elderly. One of the main reasons cited is that the Nursing Home or other similar institutions are badly managed (McBride 2011). Although it may be deemed as unacceptable since establishing a nursing home, entails an assurance that proper care will be given to all clients, still bad management is one of the major causes of elderly abuse in nursing homes. To counter bad management, The Care Quality Commission is tasked to check the quality, standard, and safety of the residents and other stakeholders of nursing homes. Unfortunately, there are still some nursing homes who do not comply resulting into poor health care service with the residents, which sometimes end to abuse (www.cqc.org.uk). Another cited reason is inappropriate or lack of proper training of the care providers (McBride 2011). This situation can be considered as cause by limited manpower and management’s lack of proper training services for their employees. Again, this goes back to poor management of the nursing homes. Likewise, working in isolation and under supervision of the employees have been identified as some of the reasons why elderly abuse happens in nursing homes and similar institutions. These are some of the identified reasons why elderly abuse continues both in the domestic setting and in care institutions. However, when comparing the reasons identified with the act of abusing the elderly the reasons seem to be frivolous compared with the gravity of the crime. What makes elderly abuse more grievous is the fact that the abuse is often committed by people with whom the elderly has established a relational trust. In other words, they trust the person who abuses them. Unfortunately, this trust relation between the older adult and the perpetrator is one of the main reasons why the elderly seldom reports the abuses, which in turn results into under reporting or even non-reporting of the crime (Ballyn 2008; Castle 2010; Lachs and Pellimer 2004; McBride 2011; Perel-Levin 2005; Williams 2002). Furthermore, according to McBride (2011) there are certain characteristics of the elderly person that makes them more vulnerable to abuse. These are social isolation, female sex, the very old, memory problems, communication difficulties, a poor carer-older person relationship, those who provide housing, financial, emotional and material support to their carer, and carers with alcohol or substance misuse problems (McBride 2011, p. 355). These create a triple burden on the part of the elderly person. Triple burden because (1) there is betrayal of trust in elderly abuse, (2) there are certain conditions in their lives that make some of the elderly at higher risk of abuse and (3) the under reporting and non-reporting of their abuse, which is an injustice. In this regard, there is a necessity on the part of the community to heighten their awareness on the issue. The community cannot just be silent on the problem of elderly abuse. Since, getting old is a necessary phase in human life. This simply means that all of us (except those who will die young) will grow old someday. Much as, some people want to avoid and deny it, getting old is a reality that human beings cannot escape. It is something that humanity shares regardless of gender, race, status in life, and other differences among human beings. As such, elderly abuse is an issue of every one and not just the older adults. Conclusion Williams 2002 claims despite the laws in place which are aimed in protecting the elderly from abuse, elderly abuse continues. This reality, which is also called the hidden crime, is a cause of alarm because studies have shown that the perpetrators of the crime are people that older adults trust. As such, the safety and security of the elderly is imperilled as the abuse may come in different forms and varying degrees from the hands of people they trust. More than that, it has been observed that the possibility of being subjected to abuse may happen regardless whether the elderly person is residing in his/her own home or nursing home. Scholars have identified possible reasons that cause the abuse. However, it has been inferred that the reasons are incommensurable to the crime against the elderly and as such, much needs to be done in order to ensure the safety of older adults so that they can have the opportunity to receive a quality life in the last phase of their human life. In this context, more laws may not stop the abuse, but an increased awareness regarding the magnitude of the crime, a change in the perception regarding the concept of getting old, deconstruction of the idea of being old, opportunities for older adults to be more active and participative in social activities, Senior Citizens desk that will act promptly on reported elderly abuse, valuing old age not only from the viewpoint of economics but also from the standpoint of human life cycle and a paradigm shift pertinent to ageing are some of the steps that may be undertaken to remove the menace of elderly abuse. Elderly abuse is dehumanising. All stakeholders of the issue must put an end to elderly abuse - not just the laws, but all of us must fight it as ageing is part of our being human. References: Ballyn, S 2008, ‘Dangerous loopholes in human rights and the care of the elderly’, In R. Garbutt (ed) Activating Human Rights and Peace: Universal Responsibility Conference 2008 Conference Proceedings, Byron Bay, NSW, 1-4 July, Centre for Peace and Social Justice, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Castle, N 2010, ‘Nurse aides’ reports of resident abuse in nursing homes’, Journal of Applied Gerontology, vol. 31 no 3, pp. 402 – 422. Donnelly, L 2008, ‘Thousands of elderly abused in care homes’, Retrieved at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1924962/Thousands-of-elderly-abused-in-care-homes.html Accessed on 7 January 2013. Lachs, MS, Pillemer, K. (2004, ‘Elder abuse’, Lancet, vol. 364: p. 1263–72 McBride, K 2011, ‘Elder abuse’, InnovAit: The RCGP Journal for Associates in Training, vol. 4 no. 6, pp.353 – 359. Megret, F 2010, ‘The Human Rights of the Elderly: An Emerging Challenge’, Retrieved at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1584303 Accessed on 7 January 2013. Nerenberg, L 2008, Elder abuse prevention: Emerging trends and promising strategies, New York: Springer publishing Company, LLC. Perel-Levin, S. 2005, ‘World Health Organization (WHO): discussing screening for elder abuse at primary care level’, Retrieved at www.who.int/ageing/publications/Discussing_Elder_Abuseweb.pdf Accessed on 8 January 2013. Williams, J 2002, ‘Public law protection of vulnerable adults: The debate continues so does the abuse’, Journal of Social Work, vol. 2 no 3, pp. 293 – 316. Electronic Sources www.cqc.org.uk http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/23/hidden-footage-elderly-abuse-bbc-documentary www.telegraph.co.uk www.who.int Read More