Elder abuse

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Elders in the United States should not have to go through situations of abuse like the one Mildred Mortenson suffered. However, this type of situations happen more often than they should and sadly, there is not enough being done to prevent it. Elder abuse should be recognized as an increasing and very serious problem in our society. As elders grow more physically frail and begin to depend on others to meet their basic needs, they tend to become vulnerable to intentional abuse and neglect within their own home as well as assisted living facilities such as nursing homes. Unfortunately, it is not possible to know exactly how many elders are being abused across the Nation. Due to under-reporting, variations in the definition of elder abuse, and the lack of a uniform reporting system, it is difficult to determine the gravity of this issue causing the problem to remain hidden. However, researchers have reported that “According to the best available estimates, between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection” (Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in an Aging America). The disturbing situation on elder abuse that the nation is currently facing can be prevented if the government, associations, and assisted living facilities provide effective interventions. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, more than half a million cases of elder abuse are reported yearly. They estimate that only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse reaches the authorities and for every 1 case of elder abuse reported, about 5 remain unknown. It is also noted that white female elders are abused at a higher rate than males and that the ... ... middle of paper ... ...ce of Elder Abuse and Neglect. Web. 14 Nov. 2003. Elizondo, Amy “Personal Communication” 4 Nov. 2013. Dossey, James P. The Problem of Elder Abuse and Current Solutions in Texas. Rep. Dossey & Jones PLLC, 01 June 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. Kohn, Robert, and Wendy Verhoek-Oftedahl. "Caregiving and Elder Abuse." Medicine & Health Rhode Island 94.2 (2011): 47-49. Academic Search Complete. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. Lachs MS, Williams CS, O'Brien S, Pillemer KA, Charlson ME. “The mortality of elder mistreatment.” Journal of the American Medical Association (1998) 428–32. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Muehlbauer, M, and PA Crane. "Elder Abuse and Neglect." Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services 44.11 (2006): 43-48. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. National Center on Elder Abuse. US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

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