Elder Abuse

• What is Elder Abuse?
• Elder Victimization statistics and info
• Preventing Elder Abuse

What is Elder Abuse?

It is the mistreatment or neglect of an elderly person, usually by a relative or other care giver.

Elder abuse may include:

• physical violence
• threats of assault
• verbal abuse
• financial exploitation
• emotional abuse
• neglect
• violation of an elderly person's rights

WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF ELDERLY ABUSE?

The typical victim lives with a family member and depends on the relative for daily care.

WHO ARE THE ABUSERS?

Usually they're family members who are acting as care givers. Likely abusers may suffer from:

• stress
• alcohol and drug problems
• emotional problems
• dependency

HOW ARE THE ELDERS ABUSED?

• physical abuse: kicked, punched, or slapped
• financial exploitation: steal, or mismanage money, forced to sign a will
• rights violation: behavior may be strictly controlled
• neglect: such as failure to provide medication, food, or personal care
• psychological abuse: elderly purposely isolated or denied companionship
• other: unsanitary conditions, poorly heated rooms, or over-medicating

WHY DOES ELDER ABUSE HAPPEN?

• resentment
• longer life spans
• retaliation
• attitudes toward violence
• lack of services
• life crisis
• lack of love and friendship
• no money
• social problems

WHY DOES THE PROBLEM CONTINUE?

• denial
• physical/mental illness
• lack of services
• fear and shame
• lack of involvement
• lack of protection
• dependence
• lack of awareness
• isolation

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THE ELDER ABUSE?

• more research
• more education
• more resources
• new legislation
• greater public awareness

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Elder Victimization statistics and info

Between 1992 and 1997, an average of 36,000 elderly persons per year were injured, and 500 were killed, by a relative, intimate, or close acquaintance (Klaus, 2000).

About half of the elderly who were faced with violence by a relative, intimate, or close acquaintance used some self-protective measure (Ibid).

Nearly half of nonlethal violence against the elderly took place inside or close to the victim's home, and 70 percent of it happened during the daytime. In 75 percent of these cases the offender was male, and in half of them the perpetrator was white (Ibid).

Divorced or separated elderly persons had higher rates (14 crimes per 1,000 persons) of nonlethal violence than those who were married or widowed (4 crimes per 1,000 persons) (Ibid).

The first and only national study on theft from patients in nursing homes found that 1.53 percent of nursing homes' employees self-reported (in the questionnaire) theft, 6 percent of respondents reported observing their coworkers stealing from patients, while 19.3 percent suspected them of the same; just less than half (47 percent) of the family members in the study reported having seen some of their relatives' possessions missing in the past year (Harris, 1999).

In 1998, 764 eldercides were committed in the United States. Even though eldercide rates were lower than in the previous years, the elderly had the highest percentage of homicides that occurred during the commission of a felony (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Homicide, 2000).

For additional information, please contact:

National Center for Victims of Crime 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300 Arlington, VA 22201 (703)276-2880 (703)276-2889 (fax) E-mail: ncvc@ncvc.org Web site: www.ncvc.org

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports Clarksburg, WV 26306-0154 (304)625-4995

National Criminal Justice Reference Service U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice, Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000 (800)851-3420 (301)519-5500 km. Web site: www.ncjrs.org

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Preventing Elder Abuse

"The time to think about prevention is not when the care giver's ability begins to be inadequate; this may be too late."

1. Be aware of the prevalence of the problem, and the factors contributing to it. Make family friends and/or attorney aware of your concerns.
2. Plan ahead. Ensure family members or other care givers have the physical, emotional, and financial resources to provide adequate care. Anticipate situations in which mistreatment may occur.
3. Have at least one plan for alternate care in the event that the first plan does not work out.
4. Remain sociable as you age; participate in community activities as much as possible and maintain or increase your network of friends.
5. Develop a "buddy system" with a friend or friends outside your home to check up on each other and provide mutual reassurance.
6. Keep regularly scheduled medical, dental and social appointments. These professionals can be helpful and in special cases, can be used to attest to your level of competency.
7. Ask friends and relatives to regularly visit you where you live. Even brief visits will allow friends to check on your environment, well-being and attitude.
8. Have your own telephone and post box, and make sure you open your own mail. If you suspect mail is being intercepted, contact postal authorities.
9. Make others aware that you are keeping track of your affairs and that you know where everything is supposed to be.
10. Let others know that you expect your personal records, accounts and property to be available for examination, either by you, or someone you trust.

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