Essay Example on Elder Abuse in Nightingale Square: A Prevalent Challenge

Introduction

The Nightingale Square neighborhood of Sentinel City® has 10,300 people aged 65 years and above, making up 10.5 percent of its total population of 103,974. Irrespective of how old an individual is, he or she is entitled to be treated as a human and full member of the community. Yet, elder abuse is a notable challenge to the city’s belief in justice for everyone.

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Elder abuse is quite prevalent in Nightingale Square and tends to impact everyone in this neighborhood. About one in every ten elderly people is abused in Gotham each year. However, most of the cases are not reported due to various reasons, including an absence of social supports required to make reporting easier. The evidence based intervention to combat elder abuse will involve putting in place systems that can prevent the vice from occurring in the first place.

Overview of Problem the Intervention is Designed to Address

More and more seniors in Sentinel City® and across the country are falling victim to elder neglect and abuse. This form of abuse is among the most serious issues facing the city’s aging population today. Residents of Nightingale Square who wish to protect their elderly loved ones have numerous kinds of neglect or abuse to contend with. According to statistics from the National Center on Elder Abuse, as many as two million people are affected by this kind of abuse. Also, it is a well-known fact that many cases of elder abuse are never actually reported to the relevant authorities. Experts from the American Psychological Association point out that elders can be victimized by care providers as well as by family members.

Elder abuse manifests itself in multiple forms. The most prevalent form is probably physical abuse that often leads to injuries. Old people may be subjected to kicking, hitting, slapping, restraining, as well as other harmful actions. The resultant injuries are often not explainable in a logical way. When a senior citizen is provided with the right care, such neglect can cause a wide range of emotional and psychological problems. The same adverse effects can result from sexual abuse.

Some elderly people are subjected to threats or verbal intimidation, sometimes causing severe emotional trauma. When a family member or caregiver tasked with caring for an elderly person abandons them, it can be quite upsetting and damaging. Another form of abuse involves scams and unethical plans to obtain finances or other assets from a wealthy but independent elderly person. Such can deplete the victim’s resources, thus hindering his or her ability to obtain care.

Overview of Intervention Procedures

The evidence-based intervention will involve putting in place community services and supports for both the elderly residents of Gotham and caregivers that can minimize the risk factors associated with elder abuse, such as neglect or social isolation. The city council of Sentinel City can increase funding meant to offer training for staff members who work in age-related care on how to detect and prevent elder abuse. Local officials can identify ways of empowering senior citizens through recreational centers and intergenerational programs aimed at minimizing ageism and its negative impact. Ageism can be described as stereotypes about aging or biases against elderly people that prevents people from fully taking part in day-to-day activities of their community as they grow older.

It is also important for Nightingale Square residents to recognize what elder abuse is and its telltale signs. This knowledge makes it possible for them to report cases of elder abuse and stop the vice in its tracks. They can all learn how to recognize abuse, report it, and thus prevent it. The mayor can set up an Adult Protective Services (APS) department branch in the vicinity of Nightingale Square. If abuse or neglect of a senior citizen is suspected, residents should immediately notify APS. It would also be helpful if residents could seek the services of a lawyer with experience in elder abuse cases or nursing home neglect.

The APS notes that any senior citizen who is not in a position to provide for his or her own basic needs is vulnerable to neglect or abuse due to their condition and reliance on other people. Telltale signs of elder abuse include injuries like bruises, sores or any other physical marking on the body. Where the injuries are located in the body can shed light on the kind of abuse the victim the victim is experiencing. For instance, a physically abused old person may have black eyes and bruises on the phase. Another warning sign is changes in the individual’s moods, actions and general behavior, particularly if the change occurs rapidly.

Assumptions of the Intervention

The intervention assumes that victims of elder abuse and residents of Nightingale Square will actively report cases to the APS and other relevant authorities. However, this will not always be the case. Older adults in Sentinel City who experience abuse or neglect have much greater odds of mortality than those who do not experience it. Chronic morbidities such as anxiety and depression, heart problems, high blood pressure, and chronic pain are also more common among individuals aged 65 years and above who are subjected to abuse. Despite these adverse outcomes, elderly abuse is significantly underreported in the city.

Those who perpetrate elder abuse are often grown up children of the victims; something that may contribute to a reluctance by the senior citizens to report cases. Elderly individuals who are undergoing abuse by their grown up family members may be reticent to seek help as they may fear some adverse retribution from the adult children. The parental bond tends to prevent elder abuse victims from asking for help, speaking to others, enacting the advice given to them, or reporting incidents to APS. There is also the stigma and shame associated with reporting abuse committed by the victim’s own relatives.

Conclusion

No matter how old a resident of Nightingale Square is, he or she deserves to be treated like a human being and a worthy member of the community. Residents can make this a reality by reporting cases or signs of elder abuse to an APS center nearby that will conduct investigations on potentially abusive situations. Senior citizens need to be supported for them to take action early enough when there are lesser chances of adverse consequences. Also, support service and APS officials in Nightingale Square need to recognize the unique relationship between parents and their children, and how it can affect an abuse victim’s ability to seek help.

References

Beach, S. R., Liu, P. J., DeLiema, M., Iris, M., Howe, M. J., & Conrad, K. J. (2017). Development of short-form measures to assess four types of elder mistreatment: Findings from an evidence-based study of APS elder abuse substantiation decisions. Journal of elder abuse & neglect, 29(4), 229-253.

Curry, S. J., Krist, A. H., Owens, D. K., Barry, M. J., Caughey, A. B., Davidson, K. W., ... & Kubik, M. (2018). Screening for intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and abuse of vulnerable adults: US Preventive Services Task Force final recommendation statement. Jama, 320(16), 1678-1687.

Daly, J. M. (2018). Evidence-based practice guideline: Elder abuse prevention. Journal of gerontological nursing, 44(7), 21-30.Moore, C., & Browne, C. (2017). Emerging innovations, best practices, and evidence-based practices in elder abuse and neglect: A review of recent developments in the field. Journal of family Violence, 32(4), 383-397.