Elder Abuse Essay Example for Free

Elder Abuse EssayElder maltreatment or senior mistreatment occurs when a soulfulness intentionally or unplannedly brings harm to an elder person. It is also when the health and well- cosmos of an elder is negatively affected. In a research done in the United States had shown 700,000 out of 1. 5 million elders ar being mistreated. There be different forms of elder exclaim varying from physical wickedness, emotional hatred, neglect, financial exploitation, abandonment and a combination of the forms stated earlier. Anyone shag be an crimer, even if he/she is a family to the victim a member of a formal look at center (medical staff, c atomic number 18giver etc. and pile within the community where the elder belongs.There are no specific characteristics for these abusers they net non be solely distinguished from the crowd. However, we can distinguish elderly people who maybe a victim of elderly mistreatment by observing their behaviors, and by observing his/her environ ment. Literature Review According to the electronic copy of the 15 Questions Answers About Elder Abuse from the National Center on Elder Abuse, elderly mistreatment occurs when intended or carelessly actions brought harm to an elder.Abusers break different personalities and reasons for committing abusive actions to elderly people. Then how do we spot an abuser? Specially at times, when the elder being abuse is physically or mentally incapable of reporting to the authorities. Some signs that may indicate occurrences of abuse is when in that respect are visible bruises, slap markings, rashes on the victims body tack in behavior (fearful, more aggressive etc. ) isolating themselves lack proper clothing food refuse medication poor living quarters and so on.Other signs to look for in the abusers personality are whether he/she is an alcoholic, had history of interior(prenominal) abuse mental illness bad temper object to blame other people economic pressure and so on. The above me ntioned are however a few informative accompaniments to consider when suspecting of elderly abuse occurrences, either by the abuser or victims actions. We have to be aware that currently there are no federal laws protect elders from elderly mistreatment.However, there are state laws which protect the elderly, like the institutional abuse concerning elderly people in nursing homes and the like. There is also the domestic abuse where elderly abuse falls too, abuse happens within the family. An increasing number of states are becoming reactive in enforcing laws protecting the elders. We are reminded too, to do our part as responsible citizens, that when we suspect of elderly abuse we must inform the police or an adult protective service for them to conduct investigations and post service to the victims.NCEA also suggested ways to decrease the risk of experiencing elder abuse by staying busy in life and acquiring a strong affirm from ones family living healthy to avoid dependence when getting old and lastly, trust your instincts when things dont feel right. As a whole, there are actions being done by the government together with various organizations to fight and decrease the level of elder abuse thru sensation programs and elder abuse stayion activities. Methodology My topic is about elderly abuse which is currently happening around the world.It cannot be denied that more and more elders are experiencing it right now. Thus, awareness to the public must be brought regarding the definition of elder abuse, who are the victims and abusers, how to prevent it and how to report a case of elder abuse. It has come to my awareness that there are numerous organizations created to prevent elder abuse and help those who have been victims of it. Though no federal law has been made specifically for elder abuse, there are state laws lay out to give corresponding actions and solutions to such cases.As a citizen, I had been informed that I can make a difference, that I c an help decrease the cases of elder abuse by being attentive to my surroundings and socially responsive when needed, like if I see an instance of elder abuse there are hotlines that I can call. My small gesture of notifying the authorities will incite a proper investigation and will help the elder experiencing abuse.Data Analysis I had stated earlier that elder abuse can be done in many forms. I shall come on elaborate how elder abuse takes place . ) Physical Abuse when force is used to elderly people causing them harm and injury. It may not of necessity mean that the abuser is beating or hurting the elderly victim, instead it may also be in the form of confining the elder in one place or restraining him/her to act freely. 2. ) Emotional Abuse hurting and offending the elder verbally which may hurt ones tone and cause him/her stress. Forms of verbal abuse are yelling to the person, threatening and blaming the person.Examples of non-verbal abuse are when the elder is being igno red, treated carelessly menacingly, and isolated from the society. 3. ) Neglect or Abandonment when the elder is unable to take proper medication lives in a poor living condition actively or passively not being taken good care of and when he/she does not receive proper care. 4. ) Financial Exploitation the abuser (either a family member, caregiver or a third person) uses the victims possession and money without permission.This occurs when the victims credit card and cash are being used by an unauthorised person forgery of the victims signature identity theft financially unable to support ones self pension checks being stolen and so on. 5. ) Health Care Fraud Abuse the abusers are from the medical staff either the doctors, nurses, caregivers and health care institutions. This case is present when there is overcharging, overmedication or opposite kickbacks from referrals and so on. Anyone is capable of committing elder abuse for different reasons.Some of the most common reasons, however are due to financial interests lack of sedulousness to take care of the elder short tempered feeling superior over the elder since the elder cant fight back or stand from himself and the way of thinking of the abusers that their actions wont be known by other people. Results In some instances though, elder abuse is really unintentional such in the cases of caregivers. When they are pushed beyond their limit and are over-whelmed with stress from work and their personal lives. Influence plays an important part as well, on wherefore elder abuse occurs both from the abuser and victims actions.For the victims part, he/she may have been an abuser earlier to the people around him/her has his/her own vogue to physically or verbally abuse people and has a domestic history of violence in their home. On the abusers part, he/she has earlier domestic violence involvement may be due to drugs or alcoholism short tempered and so on. In the end though, once it has been prove that there had been elder abuse, the abuser may either go to jail and/or pay for damages done to the victim. The victim on the other come about is given proper help to recover.If abusive actions are not recognized from the start, may cause minor to major damages to the victim. But if elder abuse is detected much earlier, it can be prevented and many will not suffer. In a 1992 article published, and re-posted on the internet, the term Granny dumping has been used pertaining to the abandonment of elderly people. This only shows that elder abuse had been present for a long time, and its population has increased over the years. The good thing is that in present years, proper actions and help is offered to the public, thus creating awareness.Discussion Elder Abuse, or earlier known as Granny dumping has long been present. In America alone, check to the studies made, a day wont pass that an elder is not brought to the emergency room because he/she has been abandoned or maltreated. It is a sad fact that not many are aware that elder abuse exists or that they are doing elder abuse by simply yelling at these elders or by disrespecting them. With the rise of nursing homes, these elderly people are becoming more vulnerable since they are exposed and involved with people whom they dont know at all.When the family of the elder can no longer take care of him/her, they are sent to nursing institutions. Worse, if the family has no financial means they just leave their elder on the streets. There is nothing wrong in being a caregiver, but if you are becoming over-whelmed with your job you can do these things to avoid elder abuse seek help from friends/family/institutions, take short leaves find an adult day care program whenever you feel like your stress-out sweep stress reduction activities seek emotional help when needed and maintain a healthy lifestyle for yourself too.There are numerous ways to prevent elder abuse, but it all has to start within the community we belong and by us, being observant of whats happening in our surrounding. It may start with our uncomfortable feeling how an elder we know or see is being treated, we can speak up and report it to the authorities. It does not mean that these elderly people can no longer stand up for themselves would remain silent and just take the abuses given to them. We must speak up for them. ConclusionIt is take a crap that elder abuse happens worldwide, the focus of my research paper has been in the U. S. alone. Whats even more disappointing is that most common abusers are the family members of the elder, have they bury about the times when their parents or their elderly relatives took care of them? However, the actions of these abusers are clearly wrong but they may have their reason for having committed abuse. Abusers or likely abusers must seek help whether emotional support or medications for them to avoid improper behavior towards the elderly people.Today, awareness to the public about elder abuse is bei ng given importance. Funds are being set aside and donations are being given to help inform the public and save do by elders. The condition in decreasing the number of elder abuse has strengthened and improved. As more volunteers and organizations are willing to help. Add too, the support obtained locally and internationally from political organizations and leaders. Lets not forget that abusers are also faced with equivalent punishments and fines for their actions.The simplest help everyone can give, is to be socially aware and responsive to ones surrounding. Its like watching for each others back, and offering help even in the smallest means. Though the authorities are present, the policemen and various organizations, we have to act first before they can proceed and apply proper actions about the abusive cases. Second, we can apply these reminders in our lives 1. ) harken to our seniors and their caregivers 2. ) intervene upon suspicion of elder abuse and 3. ) educate or inform o ther people about elder abuse.Lastly, how can we protect our elders and ourselves from elder abuse? By arranging our financial and legal affairs, if legal help is required, obtain one. Second, by staying in touch with our friends, family and relatives to decrease our vulnerability to abuse and the like. And we must respect in mind, that all human beings must be treated well elders, women, men and children must be treated humanely and be given their necessarily in life such as proper housing, enough food, required medication, proper clothing and care.