Get help from experts and other caregivers.
By Leonard J. Hansen
Elder abuse affects four percent of the elder population every year. But, according to experts, less than one in 14 cases of elder abuse is reported to law enforcement authorities.
Elder abuse is any action that victimizes your parent to the gain of another person. The abuse may be financial in nature or physically abusive to the elder. It may be deliberate in its harm; or it may be caused by incompetence of the person offering a particular caregiving service.
As a caregiver, be concerned about possible elder abuse by family members as well as conniving outsiders.
At the recent Pinal County Elder Abuse Conference in Casa Grande, Arizona, Special Assistant County Attorney Robert C. Brown presented elder abuse as it is, sadly, in the United States. Brown is recognized as a national expert on the subject and produced and hosted the new conference, his 13th annual event, to some 150 conference participants from aging services organizations plus police and prosecutorial agencies from throughout Arizona.
County Attorney Brown described elder abuse as: “Persons over 65 are subject to physical and mental illness, social isolation, life transitions and cultural biases which make manipulating them easy to do and difficult to prosecute.”
There are five basic types of elder abuse: physical, sexual, psychological, financial and neglect. If others are involved, either in caregiving or as outside providers, be aware of the potential for elder abuse.
Federal and state regulations and laws mandate that many types of professionals providing service to people of your parent’s age to report any suspicion they have of possible elder abuse to authorities. Physicians, visiting nurses, dentists, social workers and peace officers are all required by law to report what they suspect to be elder abuse. In some states, the person filing the suspicious elder abuse will not be identified in any action by authorities.
Here is a summary from attorney Brown’s presentation on elder abuse and how to identify it.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the use of “physical force which may result in bodily injury, physical pain or impairment,” according to Brown. “Physical abuse may include such acts as striking, hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching and burning,” actions which may be done to the victim as the perpetrator assumes, even wrongfully, that he or she has receded to a seriously lower level of competence or mental ability.
Suspect physical abuse if you see signs of bruising (which can be caused by belts, buckles or electrical cords) burns, abrasions or fractures. Any signs of injury out of the ordinary should be questioned.
Sexual Abuse
Yes, this happens to older adults. Watch for genital or anal infection, difficulty in walking or sitting, or bilateral bruising of inner thighs.
Psychological Abuse
This is a tough consideration because the victim symptoms may be caused by other physical, mental, medical or aging problems. Watch others in the caregiving process. Is there someone who threatens Mom or Dad, speaks poorly of the parent, or ignores the mature adult or his or her needs?
Financial Abuse
“Financial abuse is the illegal or improper use of an elder’s assets,” according to Brown. “This may include cashing the elder’s social security or pension checks without permission, taking money or property from the elder, coercing or deceiving the elder into parting with property or signing documents, and diverting guardianship or conservator-ship assets.” If you have someone in your family caregiving team who wants financial control, while personally being financially stressed, this is a distinct possibility.
Currently, financial abuse constitutes 12 percent of the abuse against the elderly in the United States, according to Brown.
Identify possible financial abuse if bank statements are no longer coming to the parent’s home, the part-time (or even full-time) caregiver has no other means of financial support, there are missing assets or property or, importantly, if the caregiver appears to have a drug or alcohol habit.
Recently, an adult child caregiver for her parent in Seattle was charged by prosecutors in Seattle for stealing and stripping her parent’s financial estate of $400,000. The request for investigation was lodged by the caregiver’s sister as an important step in protecting her mother.
Neglect
“Neglect is the failure of a person in charge of the care of an elder to adequately perform his or her obligations,” Brown says. “This may include failure to provide medicines, hygiene, food or personal safety.”
This may occur when the caregiver unintentionally fails to provide adequate care; or it may happen when the caregiver lacks the knowledge about how to provide the care or when he or she is unable to cope with the stresses of caregiving.
To spot neglect, look for neglected bedsores, skin disorders or rashes, untreated injuries or medical problems, poor hygiene, hunger, malnutrition or dehydration, pallor or sunken cheeks or eyes, or lack of clean clothing or bedding.
If you feel your parent may be a victim of some form of abuse, call 911, or the local/regional Area Agency on Aging, the police, the district attorney’s office, or other state organizations, such as Adult Protective Services.
Leonard J. Hansen is recognized as the pioneer journalist and author writing for and about mature adults, founding, publishing and editing Senior World newspapers and a syndicated newspaper columnist. He has received 106 professional awards and fellowships for his work. Access his website at: www.lenhansen.com.
Cat
Apr 9, 2008 Suggest Removal
Thank you for this article. My mother was a victim of elder abuse at the hands of her youngest that moved into her house - - - the worst part was attempting to get anything done about it.
My mother sadly lost her home, all of her possessions, all savings and nearly lost her life - she was sent to the ER. My sibling called me and told me that my mother was "gone".....when I checked it out with paramedics, I found out what hospital she was taken to. My sibling had introduced her friend/neighbor as my mothers other daughter and told the ER nurse my mother was out of it and that she (the sibling) had POA - although my mother was conscious my sibling said DO NOT RESCESITATE..... It was horrible, sad to learn the extent of what my sibling had done. All the signs were there- - -sadly no one would help until the whole thing blew up.
My mother now lives with me and is doing just fine 6 years after the event. The moral of the story is that if your parent is important - save them first - money and property may be lost, but you will never forgive yourself if you don't take action. YOu would be shocked at the lines that people will cross sometimes, I know I was.
kabukicondo
3 days ago Suggest Removal
My sister verbally and financially abused my Mother. Never would I have believed this till I saw it. I had to take action and it was hard and it of course broke any relationship with my sister and her family. But breaking them with was freeing knowing their depth of psychological breaks, incapacity for empathy, lack of moral fiber, and depth of cruelty and self absorption. My Mother is doing well now. Surprisingly, I find myself in the role of Cordelia, the youngest for so long. With one sister dead and the remaining due to elder abuse... all but dead. But how horrible a break. She can no longer talk to my sister except in public spaces, and can no longer trust her at all. The offenses were great and the family losses were great - we used to label ourselves as a happy family. Why do people throw all the goodness out of their lives with both hands! I really related to your line that suddenly with my Mother elderly and alone.... "you would be shocked at the lines that people cross sometimes"... well said.
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