Elderly abuse

Michael Y, 52, lived in a small apartment with his mother, Sue, 75. Michael has been in a out of drug and alcohol treatment centers for years. Within the last six months he had exited treatment, found a job, and was doing quite well. Until he stopped coming home right after work. Sue knew her son was stopping at the corner bar because she could smell the fumes of alcohol coming off his breath whenever he would arrive. After two or three weeks of this behavior Sue finally confronted her son. Michael immediately became belligerent, verbally abusing her and coming after her with his fist clinched tight. Sue quickly fled to her neighbor’s apartment. Luckily the following scenario was fictional, however it does make it clear that elder abuse is a disturbing Reality in today’s society. Every year approximately 2.1 million elderly Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and or neglect. One might think that the majority of elder abuse occurs in the nursing home. However elderly abuse does not. Occasionally, there are shocking reports o

e great majority of older people live on their own, with spouses, children, siblings, or other relatives. When ever elder abuse happens, other household members or paid care givers are usually the primary abusers. It is also possible that more than one type may be present in any given case or report. Caregiver stress is a significant risk factor for abuse and neglect. " Certain cultural factors, such as language barriers, make some situations more difficult to distinguish abuse from neglect, and it is important not to ignore abuse by attributing the cause to cultural differences. Many people who hear the word elder abuse and neglect think about older people living in nursing homes or possibly living alone having no contact with the outside world, but elder abuse is not just a problem of older people living on the margins of everyday life . There is no one explanation for elder abuse and neglect Elder abuse is a complex problem that can emerge from several different causes, and that often has roots in multiple factors. f nursing home residents who are mistreated by the staff. Many abused children grow up to be proper and attentive care givers. Such abuse does occur, but the majority of elderly abuse occurrences happen right at home. Sometimes a woman who has been abused for years may turn rage on her husband when his health fails. Just because a child is abused doesn"tmt mean he or she will be abusive. Family situations that can contribute to elder abuse include discord in the family created by the older persons presence, a history and pattern of violent interactions within the family. If there has been a history of abuse in a family, an adult child may take this chance to turn the tables on the abusing parent withholding proper nourishment or by over - medicating the parent.