While most people assume that their aging loved ones will be treated with dignity and respect, the striking reality is that elder abuse is more common than you might realize. Being well informed about what constitutes elder abuse, and how you can recognize it when it happens, will ensure that you can take the necessary steps to intervene should you suspect that abuse is taking place.
Though the majority of elder abuse takes place in private residences (at the hands of family members), as much as 15 percent of it occurs in paid nursing homes or assisted living centers. Tragically, if your loved one is currently under the care of a third party (or he or she is receiving in-home aid), abuse could be occurring right under your nose. Perhaps most disturbingly, some studies indicate that approximately one in five instances of abuse is ever reported.
What Constitutes Abuse?
Abuse against the elderly takes many forms, and it encompasses a wide range of mental, physical and financial actions. Many older people, especially those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, are uniquely vulnerable to mistreatment. While it may seem unthinkable, it is all-too common for in-home caregivers and those employed by long-term care facilities to act inappropriately and take advantage of them.
The blanket term "elder abuse" includes:
- Dehydration
- Withholding necessary medications
- Malnutrition
- Sexual assault (including everything from forcible rape to inappropriate touching)
- Physical abuse like slapping, punching, kicking or even biting
- Overdosing patients on sedative-type medications to keep them quiet
- Verbal/mental/psychological abuse
These actions result in myriad injuries, all of which should serve as indicators to you that abuse could be occurring. Some of these are:
- Unexplained bruising
- Marked weight loss/persistent hunger
- Acute emotional distress
- Fear of particular staff or family members
- Bed sores (technically called "decubitus ulcers", sometimes known as "pressure sores")
- Broken bones
- Exposure to the elements (common in dementia and Alzheimer's patients who, when inadequately supervised, wander away), including everything from frostbite and hypothermia to severe sunburn and wind-related chapping depending on the season
- Bodily reactions to an abundance of or sudden decrease in medication amounts
What Can You Do?
If you suspect that abuse or neglect is taking place, you need to take action. Your response could differ depending on the seriousness of the abuse, however. At the first signs of possible issues, speak with the management of the facility. Should you notice that your loved one is in immediate physical distress, call 911 for emergency response, and then contact local social welfare authorities.
Another important step when you suspect that an elderly loved one is being physically or mentally harmed, regardless of whether the abuse is at the hands of a fellow family member or an independent caregiver, is to consult a personal injury attorney with experience handling these tragic cases.
