Describe and provide explanations for elder abuse

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Abuse and neglect of older persons have received increasing public attention in recent years, due both to the increasing number of older people and to the establishment of more vocal groups to represent their concerns. Elder abuse refers to the physical abuse, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and medical abuse or neglect of people age 65 or older. Physical abuse includes malnutrition or injuries such as bruises, welts, sprains, and dislocations. Psychological abuse is made up of verbal assaults, threats, fear and social isolation. Financial exploitation typically involves theft or misuse of the older person's money or property by another person. Medical abuse occurs when a person withholds, or improperly administers, medications or health aids such as dentures, glasses, or hearing aids. Neglect is not providing care sufficient for the older person to maintain physical and mental health. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, as many as 1.6 million older people in the United States are the victims of physical or mental abuse each year. Many victims are reluctant to talk about it. Studies have shown the victims of elder abuse tend to be concentrated among those over age 75 . Most of the victims are white, middle- to lower-middle-class Protestant women, aged 75 to 85, who suffer some form of impairment. Sons, followed by daughters, were the most frequent abusers of older persons. Abusers are very likely to be dependent on the older person for housing and financial assistance. Today, almost every state has enacted mandatory reporting laws regarding elder abuse or has provided some type of governmental protection for older persons. Cases of abuse and neglect of older people are highly dramatized in the media because they offend very central values in the United States—respect for and consideration of older persons.