Elder Abuse

Elderly Abuse

In this current age older people are living longer, the elders are in better health, and are more independent and more active, but as the longevity of the elders increases and the population of the elders in America grows, the hidden problems of elder abuse rises. This brings us to the fact that elder abuse in America is a potential threat to all of us because no one is immune from the aging process. Elder abuse tends to focus on the victim as an individual; it truly is the study of health in our communities (Summers and Hoffman 1). There are many forms of elder abuse that has been committed against our elderly population, not always obvious. There are different forms of abuse; some of them are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and neglect.

Physical elder abuse is caused by force against an elderly person that can result in physical pain, injury, or impairment. This abuse is not just caused from physical assaults, such as hitting or shoving but it can also be caused from the use of drugs, restraints, or confinement (Jaffe-Gill and de Benedictis and Segal). There are some signs of physical abuse that consist of bruises or grip marks around the arms or neck. These marks can appear symmetrically on two sides of the body. There can be repeated unexplained injuries, rope marks or welts on the wrists and/or ankles (Jaffe-Gill and de Benedictis and Segal).

Sexual elder abuse involves signs of nonconsensual sexual contact such as inappropriate touching, forcing them to undress, and yes, even pornography (Jeffe-Gill and de Benedictis and Segal). This abuse is usually without the elders consent. Some physical findings that may indicate this from of abuse is occurring could be bruising to the breasts, unexplained vaginal or anal tearing or bleeding, and vaginal infections (Jeffe-Gill and de Benedictis and Segal).

Emotional or psychological abuse is the way that people speak or treat the elderly in ways that can cause emotional pain or distress. There are tactics such as harassment, insults, intimidation or threats that cause mental or emotional aguish or isolation (Skeates and Douglas). There are nonverbal forms of psychological abuse too, they can ignore the elder, isolate them and or terrorize them. If any of these or other forms of emotional abuse is occurring, a patient may show outward signs of unreasonable fear or suspicions, lack of interest in social contacts, minimizing situations (Jaffe-Gill and de Benedictis and Segal).

Financial abuse involves improper use of an older person's resources for the benefit of another person such as making significant withdrawals from an elder's account, changes in financial condition, missing cash or items, suspicious changes in wills, power of attorney, titles, lack of unpaid medical bills and financial activity that the elder couldn't have taken place doing