The number of Americans who will be 65 and older is estimated to be 80 million by 2040. There is little doubt that the US population is aging. And as people age, they become more vulnerable.
Unfortunately, this vulnerability can lead to elderly abuse, which is becoming more common. Whether you place a loved one in a nursing home or you hire someone to take care of them, it is important to know and understand each type of elder abuse. Find out more below.
Physical abuse is one of the more prevalent forms of elder abuse. During physical abuse, there may be beating, pushing, shaking, slapping, and striking.
Another example of physical abuse is maybe trying to force-feed an elderly person. Using excessive amounts of physical restraints or unprescribed drugs to control what is deemed to be annoying behavior is also abuse.
Emotional abuse is another common type of abuse that elderly people face. Common types of emotional abuse are issuing threats and insults.
Intimidation may also be used. Isolating an elderly person for long periods and giving them silent treatment is a prevalent type of abuse. Emotional abuse often accompanies physical abuse.
If you notice early signs of elder abuse, switching home healthcare providers can help.
Another common type of abuse is sexual abuse. Because elderly people are vulnerable, they can encounter non-consensual sexual contact.
Often, the elderly are confused and don’t know what is happening and an abuser can take advantage of this. Non-consensual forms of sexual abuse involve unwanted touching, forced nudity, or explicit photographs taken without the elderly person’s consent.
When somebody is in charge of taking care of an elderly person and they fail to do their duties, they are guilty of neglect.
A person can be charged with neglect whether they are a caregiver or they work in a nursing home. Neglect may be classified as active or passive. When there is active neglect, it means that the caregiver willfully and knowingly withholds care from the elderly person.
Elderly abuse may happen when a person fails to live up to the responsibilities that they have to the senior. Neglect may be due to a lack of funds or time to do what is necessary to take care of the senior citizen.
Stop Every Type of Elder Abuse
As you can see, each type of elder abuse is different. Spotting the signs of elder abuse early is important so that you can stop it before it gets worse. Anyone who consistently and knowingly abuses an elderly person is outside the bounds of the law and can be arrested.
Be careful who you select to take care of your elderly loved ones and do your due diligence before hiring. Elderly people must be protected because they have a high level of vulnerability.
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