ELDER ABUSE 1
ElderAbuse
Elderabuse is an act of commission or omission which may be intentional orunintentional to an elderly person aged 60 years or older. There arevarious types of elderly abuse (Donget al 2012). Theyinclude:
Physical abuse: This is defined as the physical force which results in impairment, bodily injury or physical pain or. It may comprise of violent acts such as striking, hitting, beating and slapping.
Sexual abuse: it involves any kind of non-sensual sexual contact with an elderly person. It include touching, sexual assault or battery and sexual explicit photographing.
Emotional abuse: this is usually verbal or non-verbal infliction of anguish, pain or distress to an elder person.
Financial abuse: it is the use of an elder’s assets funds or property improperly or illegally. They may comprise of forging the persons signature, deceiving an elderly person in order for them to sign a document and withdrawal of an elderly’s account without permission.
Mental abuse: This is inflicting mental anguish that includes humiliation and bullying.
Verbal abuse: this is use of humiliating and intimidating words to an elder.
Thereare ways in which one can identify these types of abuse which includebut not limited to the following
Broken bones, Bone fracture and skull fractures.
Open wounds and cuts.
Bruises and lack eyes.
Bruises around the genital areas.
Vaginal bleeding.
Claims of sexual assault or rape.
Sudden withdrawals from elders accounts.
Suspicious changes in wills and titles.
Cash and assets missing from the households.
Thereare state laws which help to curb this menace. The older AmericansAct established a network of free network and free legal services forpersons established over the age of 60. In the United States in orderto report an abuse one should proceed to the agency which is known asthe Adult Protective Services whose role is to investigate abusecases and offers services and advice (Hildrethet al, 2009)This agency provides a forum whereby if one is an elder and isexperiencing any form of abuse has the opportunity of confiding to afriend or family whom they trust.
Asa nurse, I would proceed by applying for mental health assessments inorder to know if my client is able to meet his basic needs, makingdecisions about services and offering testimonies. Nevertheless, Ican also apply for counseling services which would help my client toidentify the resources and options for an abuse, to plan safety if anabuse occurs and lastly to report to the authorities in order tointervene in cases where there are lost properties and assets andannul bogus marriages (Falket al, 2012).
Cultures,ethnic and religious are factors considered as risk factors forelderly abuse in both industrialized and developing factors. Culturalnorms and traditions such as ageism and sexism are recognized asplaying an underlying role. Older people are depicted as being frail,weak and dependant something that has made them appear less worthy ofgovernment investment or even family care other than groups and haspresented them as ready targets for exploitation Cooperet al, 2008).In sub Saharan in particular cultural factors include:
The systems of patrilineal and matrilineal inheritance and land rights affecting the distribution of power.
The way societies view the role of women
The erosion of close bonds between generations of a family caused by rural urban migration.
Inconclusion the following ways should be adapted to curb this menace,(Gutman& Spencer, 2010).
Intervening when you suspect elder abuse.
Educating others on ways to identify elder abuse.
Listening to caregivers.
Discovering an adult day care program.
References
Dong,X., Chen, R., Chang, E. S., & Simon, M. (2012). Elder abuse andpsychological well-being: A systematic review and implications forresearch and policy-A mini review. Gerontology,59(2),132-142.
Hildreth,C. J., Burke, A. E., & Glass, R. M. (2009). Elder abuse. Jama,302(5),588-588.
Falk,N. L., Baigis, J., & Kopac, C. (2012). Elder Mistreatment and theElder Justice Act. OJIN:The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing,17(3).
Gutman,G., & Spencer, C. (Eds.). (2010). Aging,ageism and abuse: Moving from awareness to action.Elsevier.
Cooper,C., Selwood, A., & Livingston, G. (2008). The prevalence of elderabuse and neglect: a systematic review. Ageand ageing,37(2),151-160.