Elder Abuse on the Rise, Accordingly Death more Imminent
Self-neglect by seniors increases their risk of death by nearly sixfold. And those who are abused physically, emotionally, financially or through withdrawal of care don’t live much longer. Their risk for dying more than doubles, the researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago report.
Self-neglect includes inadequate food, water, clothing, shelter or necessary medications. Also simply not following basic hygiene practices falls under the experts’ definition of self-neglect which could increase the chances of an imminent fatal decline.
“Whether it was some decline in medical function that led to self-neglecting behavior, or the other way around, these people are in crisis, and social services and medical services need to have more communication and interaction,” the researcher said.
Signs of self-neglect include a sudden change in weight, hygiene, or worsening medical conditions. More difficult to detect are signs of abuse, but unexplained bruises or sudden change in doctors could be clues. An older person who starts running out of money, when they never did before, frequently signals impending trouble. Items suddenly missing from their home is a familiar red flag social workers see in abuse cases.
Financial abuse and exploitation are probably getting worse in the recession experts say.
The incidence of elder abuse, in general, is on the rise. The 500,000 to 1,000,000 reports of elder abuse recorded by authorities every year are only the tip of the iceberg, according to HelpGuide.org.
The Administration on Aging, broadly defines abuse as:
- Emotional Abuse - Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts. Behavior such as belittling, threats, and other uses of power and control by spouses or caregivers are indicators of verbal or emotional abuse.
- Exploitation - Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.
- Neglect - Refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care or protection for a vulnerable elder.
- Physical Abuse - Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need.
- Sexual Abuse - Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
- Abandonment - The desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
“In every state, physical, sexual, and financial abuses targeting elders that violate laws against assault, rape, theft, and other offenses are punishable as crimes. With some variation among states, certain types of emotional elder abuse and elder neglect are subject to criminal prosecution, depending on the perpetrators’ conduct and intent and the consequences for the victim,” according to HelpGuide.org.
If you suspect abuse, neglect or explotation: http://www.aoa.gov/AoAroot/AoA_Programs/Elder_Rights/EA_Prevention/WhatToDo.aspx
Sources: XinQi Dong, M.D., associate professor, medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago; Karin Ouchida, M.D., assistant professor, medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, and medical director, Montefiore Medical Center Home Health Agency, New York City; Aug. 5, 2009, Journal of the American Medical Association
Sources: “Elder Abuse, Neglect Make Early Death Far More Likely”, HealthDay, August 4, 2009
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