Elderly targets for abuse, experts say

It has been estimated by mental health professionals that at least two million older Americans are abused or neglected each year. This abuse shows no preference for gender, ethnicity, economic well-being, or health status. The abuse can occur at the hands of paid care givers or family members. It can occur at home or in institutional settings.

The three largest categories of abuse/neglect include:

• Physical or psychological neglect. This neglect may be obvious or subtle, overt or covert, intentional or unintended. As in all types of elder abuse, it is important to recognize that the abuse may be real or simply threatened.

• Physical or psychological abuse. Obvious acts of violence, sexual misconduct, misuse of external devices designed to help the patient, such as restraint or medication, withholding of goods or services designed to assist the elderly, such as hearing or visual aids.

• Exploitation of the elderly, financial abuse, or violation of the elder individual's rights. This includes scams designed to cheat or fraudulently take advantage of elderly, blatant stealing of money, possessions, etc., or mismanaging the elder person's estate and assets.

Elder abuse can be manifested in many ways, including poor hygiene, inappropriate clothing, depression, untreated medical problems, dehydration, malnutrition, etc.

It is important to understand that many of these above difficulties may be due to illness or deprivation due to factors other than abuse.

Many things can contribute to the abusers motivational pattern. Drug abuse, caregiver stress, psychological problems of the abuser, or financial difficulties.

Detection of abuse often comes during medical examinations, or quite often from third-party observers. Elders are often unlikely to report abuse for a variety of reasons including fear of retaliation, not being believed, or a desire to protect the abuser.
Reporting abuse/neglect is imperative and proper resources for reporting suspected abuse is the National Elder Care Locator Hotline at 1-800-677-1116.