Mistreatment of American Elderly Adults Does everyone plan to age? Whether we want to age or not, it is inevitable for all of us. Americans do not view aging with respect or reverence. Other cultures have different attitudes and practices around aging and death, and their positive perspectives on aging create different living environments for the elderly that live there . While many cultures celebrate the aging process and revere their elders, Americans only focus on youthfulness and anti aging. In fact, most of our elderly are removed from their homes and relegated to hospitals and nursing homes. To become old becomes a shameful experience. Millions of elderly adults live in nursing homes in America. Most elderly adults do not live more …show more content…
It is easier to look the other way when our elderly suffer in nursing homes. Many types of abuse have been documented in nursing homes. In recent years, nursing homes were held accountable for patient neglect, but a recent case in which nursing home workers were charged for neglect marks a change in thought. Now, the workers can be held accountable. However, even with the threat of punishment, workers still abuse their patients. Numerous nursing home residents may be the victim of abuse or neglect every year. Nursing home abuse is a serious concern and seniors who have been abused have a much greater chance of death in the years following the abuse than those who are not abused. A survey of residents showed almost all residents had seen another resident neglected. Physical abuse occurs that causes the resident to experience sprains, bruises, abrasions and even fractures. Commonly, the injuries are the result of someone slapping, hitting, and striking the elderly with objects. Emotional abuse happens when the elderly are mistreated by verbal abuse like insults or threats and can also lead to feelings of humiliation and abandonment. Misappropriation of money or property is another form of abuse. Frequently, the elderly lose their rights and access or ownership of accounts and …show more content…
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15 each year. Because millions of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited, once a year on June 15, communities and municipalities around the world plan activities and programs to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is an opportunity to share information and spread awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation in later life. The program promotes being united to put an end to the abuse. America needs people within small, local communities to educate others about the impact of elder abuse and the pervasiveness of ageism. Through individual connections, community outreach, and statewide engagement we can join together to raise this devastating issue to a nationwide priority. There are many ways we can prevent elder abuse in nursing homes from spreading. The ACL or Administration for Community Living advises us to engage seniors socially, provide them with Scam Checklists, put blurbs about elder abuse in church bulletins and newsletters, present information to community centers, and get social clubs to pass out materials. If we all have the outlook of one person, one action, one nation united against elder abuse like the National Center on Elder Abuse has for a motto, then we can accomplish a lot more in stopping the cycle of abuse that exists in today’s
Some of these cases of abuse are done in elderly homes by family members. In the first section of the article, the authors discuss the definition of elder abuse. The authors began with the most common types of elder abuse, which are physical and neglect. Elder abuse is the intentional use of physical force that results in acute or chronic illness, bodily injury, physical pain, functional impairment, distress, or death (Choi NG & Mayer J. In summary, the rhetorical analysis essay discusses how elder abuse and neglect affect the victims physically, emotionally, and professionally.
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.
So how can we spot, educate, and prevent elderly abuse? I am so glad you
...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.
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.
Albeit LTC facilities are designed to benefit individuals with disabilities, residents in LTC settings are often victims of unethical practices conducted by healthcare employees. Types of abuse commonly seen in long-term care ranges from withholding food from the individual, overdosing residents with medication to keep them calm, withholding individuals from activities, physically beating or spanking residents, and the list goes on. There are many instances where residents are verbally abused, called names, and profanity is used against the individuals. This type of behavior from health care professionals is unacceptable, and these incidents must be
Now, you can see that Nursing Home abuse is a big problem in America. You might want to get involved in our local program against nursing home abuse. I will leave you with one last statistic, 1 out of every 8 nursing home patients are abused in some way. Wouldn’t you like to help them?
Elder abuse is a very sad reality. With an understanding of what the term elder abuse encompasses, who is at risk, what the warning signs are, the statutes that are there to protect the elderly, who is mandated to report the abuse, and how to report the abuse, it is important to minimize the crime. As with all things, the most important way to prevent something from happening is to educate, and elder abuse is no different. If care takers had education about the numerous resources there are, such as support groups and counseling, elder abuse could possibly be decreased exponentially.
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, there were more than 16,000 nursing homes across the U.S. as of 2010. Such facilities age some of the most vulnerable members of our society, the elderly and disabled. All too often, nursing home residents in West Virginia, and throughout the country, are mistreated by those who they, and their families, have entrusted with their care. However, there are things that people can do to help protect their loved ones from nursing home abuse and neglect.
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]
In today’s society, what was once said to be true and taken as fact regarding older people is no longer the whole story. As Laslett states, “At all times before the middle of the twentieth century and all over the globe the greater part of human life potential has been wasted, by people dying before their allotted time was up.” (1989a), and to a great extent a lot
Elderly adults face an abundant amount of abuse in many healthcare settings. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), elder abuse is defined as, “intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or “trusted” individual that lead to, or may lead to, harm of a vulnerable elder” (NCEA, 2017, p. 2). Elder abuse can possess many forms, including physical abuse, neglect, emotional or psychological abuse, financial abuse or exploitation, sexual abuse, and abandonment. (NCEA, 2017, p. 2). This abuse can take place in many settings that house seniors, age 65 years old and up regardless of age, sex, or race. These senior care facilities can include, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and/or senior day care
Independence is a socially constructed concept within a capitalistic patriarchal society that serves to marginalize and oppress the elderly members of the society. Why do many women of the elderly population within the United States live alone? What is it about our society that has encouraged the elderly population to live alone and without the vital familial support that is so often necessary for people who are reaching their golden years? Elderly people in the United States are one of the most vulnerable groups of people who have traditionally been marginalized. They are viewed as weak individuals because they are no longer able to physically work for pay. Many of them choose to live alone yet suffer in isolation because of the lie they have been sold. According to the symbolic interactionist theory, if independence is the ultimate reward for a lifetime of achievement, surely remaining independent and alone is preferable to living with loved ones. The elderly person does not want his or her social networks to believe the elderly person is weak. Isolation is preferable to dependency and being a burden upon another individual or family.
The perpetrators of elderly abuse typically care for the victim, whether it be a family member or a caregiver from a nursing or assisted care facility. However, data from The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study 1998 characterized the perpetrators as being family members in “nine out of ten (89.7 percent) substantiated incidents of domestic elder abuse and neglect” (The Administration for Children and Families & The Administration on Aging, 1998). The report continues by stating that “Adult children of elder abuse victims were the most likely perpetrators of substantiated maltreatment (47.3 percent)” (The Administration for Children and Families & The Administration on Aging, 1998).