Elder abuse

Over the years, government agencies and community professional groups worldwide have specified elder abuse as a social problem.

An increasing number of events are held across the globe on this day to raise awareness of elder abuse and highlight ways to challenge it.

[5] In essence, elder abuse involves the use of power and control to harm the well-being and status of an older person.

In addition to observing signs in the elderly individual, one can also detect abuse by monitoring changes in the caregiver's behavior.

Relatives include adult children and their spouses or partners, their offspring, and other extended family members.

For example, Hybrid Financial Exploitation (HFE) abusive individuals are more likely to be a relative, chronically unemployed, and dependent on the elderly person.

This can be done by funneling more resources into housing assistance programs, intensive care management services, and better welfare benefits for individuals with serious mental illness.

In the case of sons and daughters, it tends to be that of financial abuse, justified by a belief that it is nothing more than the "advance inheritance" of property, valuables, and money.

Sometimes this type of abuse is referred to as "poor practice," although this term reflects the motive of the perpetrator (the causation) rather than the impact upon the older person.

At the sociocultural level, being represented as weak and dependent, having a lack of funds to pay for care, needing assistance but living alone, and having bonds between generations of a family destroyed are possible factors in elder abuse.

[25] The number of incidents of elder abuse is increasing exponentially due to the rapidly growing population of older people.

Not only that, by the year 2054, senior citizens will make up roughly a quarter of the total population, numbering to around 84 million.

With an ever-climbing cost of living and an uncertain future for those receiving social security, financial difficulties are undoubtedly going to continue to be a serious problem for these older generations.

Social Security is a vital form of financial support for retirees, accounting for “half of the household income for adults aged 62 and older, according to the U.S.

[28] But it is under threat, with the Social Security Administration making a statement that funds are expected to “be exhausted” by 2037 if drastic action isn't taken soon.

This is all quite dire for a population of vulnerable adults who may have physical and mental limitations that prevent them from working and receiving income.

"[31] Given as we know that the majority of abuse cases in the aged are caused by family members, these statistics are not too comforting caregivers.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says that 81% of them would need to hire additional workers to meet nursing staff requirements.

Unfortunately, it is also true that with underpaid or overworked staff, abuse will increase, as it is reported that 13% of cases are from medical caregivers.

For this reason, neglect, negligence, and elder cruelty will likely increase as we face a shortage of care facilities in the years to come.

One study suggests that around 25% of vulnerable older adults will report abuse in the previous month, totaling up to 6% of the general elderly population.

[35] However, some consistent themes are beginning to emerge from interactions with abused elders, and through limited and small scale research projects.

[39] Age Concern New Zealand found that most abusers are family members (70%), most commonly sons or daughters (40%).

[39] In 2007, 4766 cases of suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation involving older adults were reported, an increase of 9 percent over 2006.

For example, several communities throughout the United States have created Financial Abuse Specialist Teams,[52] which are multidisciplinary groups that consist of public and private professionals who volunteer their time to advise Adult Protective Services (APS), law enforcement, and private attorneys on matters of vulnerable adult financial abuse.

By one estimate, 70% of elderly people with mental impairments such as dementia, delusions, or paranoia falsely accuse caregivers of stealing.