Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action.

The world is ageing rapidly. The United Nations (UN) states that by 2050, it is estimated that 1 in every 6 people will be aged 65 or over, increasing the vulnerability experienced by older persons to violence. Unfortunately, abuse of elders is also on the increase. Elder abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The fact, elder abuse is not confined to elders who are institutionalized. Many older persons are abuse in their own homes. Abuse oftentimes is not physical since those are more readily observed by family member and health care professionals. Abuses of elders frequently take the form of psychological ill-treatment. In many instances, those who work with elders are not paid well. In fact, many are not trained to work with older persons. Elder abuse can also take the form of financial mismanagement of the resources of the older persons. In some societies elders are revered and respected. On the other hand, there are societies where older persons are seen as a burden and bother. Sadly, once this mindset takes hold, rest assured elder abuse will be present. It can be difficult to care for older persons especially in circumstances where the State does not provide and social security safety net. In many cases, sufficient resources are not available to provide the basic level of care. A World Health Organization (WHO)-supported study revealed that nearly 64% of institutional staff admitted to abusive behavior in the previous year, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change. This year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) will focus on the abuse of older adults in long-term care facilities. Whereas most older people live in the community, institutional care is a reality for many. As the need for institutional care grows with global aging, so do concerns about safeguarding the rights, safety, and dignity of residents is of outmost importance. With a global ageing population and increasing reliance on institutional care, ensuring residents’ safety and dignity is more urgent than ever. What is Elder Abuse? Elder abuse can be financial, emotional, physical, and sexual. It also includes people who are neglected and those who neglect themselves (self-neglect). Social isolation, financial or emotional stress, and dementia can make a senior vulnerable to abuse. The consequences of elder abuse are grave: older adults who are abused are twice as likely to be hospitalized, four times as likely to go into nursing homes, and three times as likely to die. While studies show that 60% of abusers are family members, abuse can happen in any setting: in the older adult’s own home or a senior living community. Between 1 million and 2 million Americans over 65 years old were injured, exploited or mistreated by someone they depended on for care or protection, according to the National Center for Elder Abuse. Addressing Elder Abuse. Approaches to define, detect and address elder abuse need to be placed within a cultural context and considered alongside culturally specific risk factors. The UN adds that in some traditional societies, older widows are subjected to forced marriages while in others; isolated older women are accused of witchcraft. From a health and social perspectives, unless both primary health care and social service sectors are well equipped to identify and deal with the problem, elder abuse will continue to be under diagnosed and overlooked. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed annually on June 15th to highlight one of the worst manifestations of ageism and inequality in our society, elder abuse. The theme this year is Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action. Oftentimes the signs of elder abuse are in plain sight. Signs of Abuse. You may see signs of abuse or neglect when you visit an older adult at home or in a residential facility. An older person might be a victim of abuse if they: have unexplained pressure marks, bruises, burns, cuts, or scars, have become withdrawn or act agitated or violent, display signs of trauma such as rocking back and forth, develop preventable conditions such as bedsores (open sores that can develop when a person stays in one position for a long time, such as being confined to a bed). Population ageing is a serious social issue that requires both the intervention of the State and vested stakeholders to the table to tackle the implications concerning an ageing population. In many parts of the world elder abuse occurs with little recognition or response. Regrettably, elder abuse in is mostly considered a private matter. Even today, elder abuse continues to be a taboo, mostly underestimated and ignored by societies across the world. Elder abuse is obviously a violation of older people’s human rights. No one is immune to elder abuse. Elder abuse is everybody’s business. In the words of AJ Heschel, to care for anyone else enough to make their problems one's own is ever the beginning of one's real humanity. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #elderabuse