“Elder maltreatment was first described in 1975 when simultaneous reports of “granny battering” appeared.” (Collins, 1290) When we discuss elder abuse, we aren't just referring to physical beatings, but also sexual, verbal, neglect, finical misuses, and violations of their rights as a human. Of the entire population of the elderly community large majorities of abuse happens in the home, home can be a institutional facility such as a nursing home. “Currently, 5% to 10% of the elderly population reside in institutions.”( Collins. 1292) Claims educate us to understand the definition of a perpetrator within institutions; this includes and does not exclude, staff members, other residents and even visitors. So the question is then presented, what policies are implemented to put forth efforts to protect this elderly community so that they feel safe within their homes and communities? Are we as a nation using organized educational training methods to bring awareness and resources to everyone involved in institutional care facilities?
President Harry Truman in 1950 held the first national conference on aging. At this time “projects for “protective service units” were given to the department of health education and welfare.” (Lindberg, 107) White house conference on aging came into the discussion in 1961, at this time they brought national awareness and congressional efforts to help this overall goal of prevention of elder abuse. In 1974 the social security act allowed adult protective services under title XX, this encourage some states to independently mandatory reporting of abuse within the elderly community. (Lindberg, 108) “Although education may help increase the number of people interest in adult protection work specific training is need for working with adults who have been abused and neglected.” (Connell-Carrick, 192)
Training, and policies have been implemented over a period of 60 years but until 2010 there wasn't a concrete law put into place. The Elder Justice Act or EJA is new to our country it is now part of the affordable care act. As of March 23, 2010 EJA was signed into law by President Obama. “The EJA is the first federal law “to specifically state that it is the right of older adults to be free of abuse neglect and exploitation.”” (Lindberg, 105) These policies and laws now enforce the provided protection for the elderly community in the United States that they rightfully deserve.
The Geriatric Social Work Initiative is a national project that has provided tools in training social workers working in the field on gerontology, supplying they with the training to provide exceptional services to their clientele.
Assisted Living Facilities abuse is a frequently occurring problem in our society (Hamilton). There are diverse categories of abuse that transpire in Assisted Living Facilities which are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial abuse. Samples of physical abuse would be hitting or beating the elders with an object or their hand, force feeding them or pulling their hands. Sexual abuse is the Assisted Living Facility employees having sexual acts with non-consenting patients. Emotional abuse is the employees saying things verbally to torment the patient. Neglect would be the employee does not take care of the patients such as providing hygiene. Abandonment occurs when leaving patients to fend for themselves. Financial abuse is when the patient’s family pays for the services that were not taken care of. “Elder abuse is fast becoming one of the uppermost law enforcement tasks of the next century, “said Paul Hodge who investigates crime against the elderly (Gonzalez). Since abuse occurs throughout assisted living facilities, state and federal governments should establish a type of punishment such as sending for employees to prison, ways to prevent abusing elderly’s is by inspecting employees ' criminal records, qualified staff, reporting injuries, having surveillance of the areas that do not affect patients privacy, promoting continuous family visits, and shortage of staffing.
As you can see, I am not elderly and I have not experienced elder abuse personally, but I am a concerned American. The aging
In 1965 the first Aging American’s Act was passed. This legislation was part of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society reform. In passing this legislation nearly 50 years ago, the government created a new department the focused on the rights and needs of the gaining population called the United States Administration on Aging. The original legislation was complete with seven titles. The articles include Title I—the Declaration of Objectives for Older Americans; Title II—Establishment of Administration on aging; Title III—Grants for state and community programs on aging; Title IV—Activities for health and independence, and longevity; Title V—Community service senior opportunities act; Title VI—Grants for Native Americans; and Title VII—allotments for vulnerable elder rights protection activities. Each of these titles are present in the most recent Aging Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2013. Each of the titles in the original and reauthorization have levels of measure to ensure that the legislation is enacted in a manner that will protect the aging population. The titles provide guidance to involved organizations and caregivers ensuring each is properly educated in treating the medical and mental health needs of the aging population as well as recognizing, reporting, and preventing elderly abuse, neglect, and physical, mental, and financial exploitation.
This plan is to validate that individuals in needs will continue to receive services from a social worker on a regular basis. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for social workers is expected to grow twice as fast as any other occupation, especially in gerontology, home healthcare, substance abuse, private social service agencies, and school social work. Based off the given information about the need for social workers, it is imperative that this reinvestment act become an official law to help promote social advocacy in today’s society. The high expectations of social workers needed in this career field is directed towards those experiencing aging and with aging comes physical and mental changes in health which would require a need for more professional social
...how kindness to them. Unfortunately, many caregivers take advantage of the elderly by taking their money, by using violence and sexual interference, and by abusing clients emotionally. 96% of elder abuse cases are not reported. ( Medscape.com). The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA) is an organization dedicated to raising awareness about abuse and neglect of older abuse. (onpea.com). It stands to reason that there is a large problem still rampant in society where others are taken advantage of, or mistreated. Hopefully more documented information and raising awareness of the issue amongst society will allow more people to understand this as a problem and the abusers to be caught. These obvious abuse of rights are something that should be protected, luckily people become more aware of these circumstances that is happening on a regular basis.
With respect to older women, the issue is that there is a serious lack in differentiating between elder abuse and domestic violence. The discrepancy causes confusion as to what agency to report either volunteered or mandated cases of abuse (Kilbane & Spira, 2010). Furthermore, it is because of reporting errors that victims of abuse may not receive the services that are congruent to the type of abuse (Kilbane & Spira, 2010) indicating, “…a lack of centralized reporting of cases….” (Kilbane & Spira, 2010, p. 165).
Though elderly abuse occurs in many nursing homes, it is preventable. It is the nursing aide 's responsibility to provide quality and comfortable care, free from abuse. Many people are not aware that there are several other types of abuse in addition to physical abuse and many are not aware of the signs. If abuse should occur, anyone who suspects or witnesses the abuse is responsible for reporting it. Knowing the types of abuse, being aware of the signs, and reporting incidents are all ways to prevent abuse in nursing homes.
They also develop painful and life-threatening decubitus ulcers, and if they are not fed properly, they’re not given sufficient fluids. They are also over-medicated or under-medicated, and dropped causing painful bruises and fractures, are ignored and not included in activities, are left in bed all day, call lights not answered. These are all forms of negligence, performed daily in nursing homes. Nursing homes who receive federal funds are required to comply with federal laws that specify that residents receive a high quality of care. In 1987, Congress responded to reports of widespread neglect and abuse in nursing homes during the 1980’s, which enacted legislation to reform nursing home regulations and require nursing homes participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs to comply with certain requirements for quality of care.
Laws are created to protect and prevent unacceptable actions from happening. As the awareness of abuse became apparent to advocate groups there was a push toward the creation of legislation. The first initial movement toward incorporating elder care in legislation was in the 1960s with the Older Americans Act. The Older Americans Act assigned guardianship or institutionalization to cases of abuse. This trend continued into the 1970s with the creation of Adult Protective Services. The Adult Protective Services was created through the Social Security Act to protect adults 18 or older who suffer from abuse, neglect, or exploitation through funding for welfare programs. Just three years into the new millenium the Elder Justice Act was introduced. In 2010, the Elder Justice Act was made into a law and began receiving funding from the federal government as part of President Obama’s health care reform bill.
Every American should have the right to live free from the fear of abuse. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. The National Center on Elder Abuse Administration on Aging (NCEA) stated, “In the United States, the 2010 Census recorded the greatest number and proportion of people age 65 and older in all of decennial census history: 40.3 million, or 13% of the total population. This “Boomer Generation” effect will continue for decades”. This suggests that with the population of elders increasing, the abuse of elders will grow much higher. Elder abuse if defined as intentionally causing harm to a vulnerable elder by a caregiver or someone they trust. There are five main types of abuse; Physical, sexual, neglect, emotional or psychological
Of nursing home staff interviewed in 2004, nearly 40% admitted to committing at least one psychologically abusive act toward a resident and 10% admitted to physically abusing a resident in the preceding year.[1] Not only are nursing home residents at risk of being abused by their caretakers but they are also at risk of being restrained, which may lead to a form of abuse. With five percent of the elderly population, or one to two million instances of elder abuse occurring yearly there is no doubt that elder abuse deserves serious consideration.[2]
Payne, B. K. and Gainey, R. R. (2006). The Criminal Justice Response to Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes:. Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http://wcr.sonoma.edu/v07n3/67.payne/payne.pdf
Cases of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation have been recognized over the years by the criminal justice system and there has been great emphasis on it. Trainings for prosecutors and law enforcement officers have been implemented in order to learn the various aspects and have a better understanding of such cases. These trainings have also helped with identifying a potential elder offender and/or victim. Mental and physical conditions play a part and affect the elderly who are victimized or have offended, therefore, it is important for the criminal justice system to be able to identify these unique aspects (Aprile, 2012).
The elders of this generation are more active, more involved, and more independent than in the past. Today, they are living healthier and longer lives. However, even though the population of older Americans rises, so does the occurrence of elder abuse and neglect.