Elderly Abuse and Neglect Paper Example

Part 1: Demographics on Elderly Abuse and Neglect

The elderly population is the current issue that is resulting in various controversies. Consequently, the elderly population is accompanied by multiple responsibilities which result in duties for different family dynamics to change. In most cases, the changes and the emergence of duties to keep on the watch on the old results to stress and frustration. Consequently, the disappointment and anxiety result in unprecedented abuse and neglect of the elderly. Three issues are connected to the elderly abuse and neglect according to the current economic, social and political situations (Memmott, 2003). Additionally, Memmott (2003) mentioned that from 1980 to 1990, the number of the elderly individuals increased by 21.6%. The statistics are expected to rise by 21% of the total population. The responsibilities that accompany the elderly support is connected to financial exploitation, which to some people they consider neglect and physical abuse as a way of getting away from the responsibilities. The issues concerned with elderly abuse and neglect revolves around both children, caregivers and the people who are in contact of the elderly who may seem to be very desperate and vulnerable to exploitation. For that matter, social work practice has been facing challenges especially for the older adults who seem to have a loose identity or who may seem to be neglected by their people.

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Part 2: Summary of Elderly Abuse and Neglect

The rising elderly population tends to provide grounds for an increasing factor for the abuse and neglect that they face. According to the National Council on Aging (n. d.), it has been found out that only one case out of fourteen is reported concerning elder abuse and neglect yet there are five million cases per year. In most cases, physical elderly abuse has been found to be committed by members of the family that the elderly is part. According to the National Institute of Justice, 2013), most of the victims of elder abuse are functioning adult children. Additionally, the abused are said to be individuals who generally depend on the abusers for support most for long term care. Elderly face various abuses and neglect factors in conjunction with the situation and the level of care that the elderly require from the people that they focus on for help.

Neglect is also an issue that the elderly face from the people they are part and the general population. Neglect comes when the victim is entirely dependent on the caregivers and the people who chose to offer support. Neglect and abuse are also issues that are quickly done by social workers whenever burnout happens to be an issue (Memmott, 2003). Neglect is worse than abuse since it can lead to death. Most of the victims of abuse usually think that they were terrible parents thus they typically don't complain of any injustice done to them.

On the other hand, financial exploitation usually occurs as an abuse of the elderly whenever they lay trust in family members, but they end up defrauding them. The victims of financial abuse are typically slow in connecting dots and are usually the adults who are facing Alzheimer disease which deprives them of their memory. Due to social isolation and overwhelming loneliness makes most of the adults to allude to abuse by their close family members. Loneliness and isolation increase overreliance of the elderly on people thus subjecting them to abuse, and after that, they face neglect when then seize to be of importance.

The higher rise of the elderly has prompted to the scramble for the less available medical resources thus leading to neglect by the people who are affiliated with helping the old. The rise in healthcare cost rise according to the demand for healthcare. For that matter, most elderly face neglect due to financial constraints.

Part 3: Link on Elderly Abuse and Neglect

Health Link BC (n. d.) is a website that is sponsored by British Columbia research on human associations and health. The organization is named as BC Centre for Elder. Its mission is to offer advocacy and support for the elderly. Its vision is to be a world-class organization that promotes just healthcare and support for the elderly. According to Health Link BC (n. d.) website, the elderly face various abuses and neglect which deprive them of their happiness and safety. The site outlined that abuse of the elderly occurs even in social institutions that offer care for the elderly. Elderly maltreatment includes physical, financial, emotional, neglect and violation of the fundamental rights. Emotional abuse includes threats, intimidation and calling the old names. Another cause of elderly abuse is the family constraints that occur while living with the elderly. Violence is usually hidden due to the presence of family pride.

Recommendations to Social Work Practice

Elderly abuse and neglect occurs and gets masked due to the lack of programs that empower the elderly to know their rights. Amid lack of plans to handle abuse and neglect of the elderly, studies show that adequate medical assistance is still a challenge to most of the social workers. The reason why most of the abuse and neglect is not complained about by the elderly is due to the things that they did to their people while they were still in their active status. Social workers should come up with a program that should educate adults on the need to be treated well. There should be an empowerment program that will enable the elderly to report any abuse set on them.

References

Health Link BC (n. d.). Preventing abuse and neglect of older adults. British Columbia. Retrieved from https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/prevent-abuse-older-adults

National Council on Aging. (n.d.). Elder Abuse Statistics & Facts | Elder Justice | NCOA. Retrieved April 24, 2017, from https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/elder-justice/elder-abuse-facts/

National Institute of Justice. (2013, January 7). Causes and Characteristics of Elder Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/elder-abuse/Pages/understanding-causes.aspx

Memmott, J. (2003). Social work practice with the elderly substance abuser. Journal Of Social Work Practice In The Addictions, 3(2), 85-103. Retrieved from http://content.ebscohost.com/ContentServer.asp?T=P&P=AN&K=15300299&S=R&D=i3h&EbscoContent=dGJyMNLr40Sep7U4yOvqOLCmr1CeqLBSs6i4SraWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPHl4Um549%2BB7LHjfPEA