World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Dear Dr. LeCrone:

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, 2008. Please address this topic.

-A reader in Texas

Dear Reader:

Elder abuse shows no preference for gender, ethnicity, economic well-being or health status.

The abuse can occur at the hands of paid caregivers or family members. It can occur at home or in institutional, long-term care settings. However, because only about 4 percent of older adults live in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, the vast majority of abuse and neglect takes place at home.

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.

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

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

Manifestations of elder abuse can include poor hygiene, inappropriate clothing, depression, untreated medical problems, dehydration, and malnutrition.

However, it is important to understand that many of these difficulties may be caused by illness or deprivation due to factors other than abuse.

There are many different causes for elder abuse, many of which are complex and involve several different factors.

One of the most common reasons for abuse or neglect is that the caregiver is stressed. The caregiver may not have the skills or knowledge to care for the older person, and this in turn can cause much frustration and stress for the caregiver.

Caregivers with their own emotional, financial or physical problems may also be at risk for abusing and neglecting the one they are caring for.

The abuse is most often reported by health-care professionals or other third-party observers. Older adults often do not report abuse for a variety of reasons, including fear of retaliation, fear of not being believed or a desire to protect the abuser.

An excellent Internet resource on abuse, neglect and exploitation is www.notforgotten.org. Another excellent resource is the National Elder Care locator: (800) 677-1116.