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Elder Abuse |
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Elder Abuse |
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What is Elder Abuse? ●
Who Are Victims? ●
What types of Elder Abuse occur? |
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What is
elder abuse? |
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Elder
abuse can take a number of forms and may be defined in various ways.
It is most often defined as an action by a person in a position of
trust which causes harm to an elder. Harmful actions by strangers are
usually not considered elder abuse. The exact
incidence of elder abuse is unknown. One estimate for the United
States places the number of seniors abused or mistreated at 1.5
million per year. The figure may be much higher since elder abuse is
often not reported. In any event, with a rapidly growing elderly
population, the numbers can be expected to rise. |
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Who are the
victims of elder abuse? |
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Elder abuse can happen to anyone, although
elders who have mental or physical disabilities are at the greatest
risk. More women than men live to be elders, but both sexes are equally
at risk for abuse. Some older people are abused by their spouses, others
by children, others by caregivers in institutions. As with other types
of abuse, those who abuse elders usually keep the victim socially
isolated. |
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What types of elder abuse occur? |
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Physical Abuse |
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Any physical pain or injury which is
willfully inflicted upon an elder by a person who has care or custody
of, or who stands in a position of trust with that elder, constitutes
physical abuse. This includes, but is not limited to, direct beatings,
sexual assault. unreasonable physical restraint, and prolonged
deprivation of food or water. |
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kbt |
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Financial Abuse |
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Any theft or misuse of an elder's money or
property, by a person in a position of trust with an elder, constitutes
financial abuse. |
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kbt |
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Neglect |
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The failure of any person having the care or
custody of an elder to provide that degree of care which a reasonable
person in a like position would provide constitutes neglect. This
includes, but is not limited to: |
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1. Failure to
assist in personal hygiene or the provision of clothing for an elder.
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2. Failure to provide medical care for the physical and mental
health needs of an elder. |
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This does not include instances in which an elder refuses treatment.
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3. Failure to protect an elder from health and safety hazards. |
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kbt |
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Self Neglect |
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Failure to provide for self through
inattention or dissipation. The identification of this type of case
depends on assessing the elder's ability to choose a life-style versus a
recent change in the elder's ability to manage. |
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kbt |
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Psychological / Emotional |
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The willful infliction of mental suffering,
by a person in a position of trust with an elder, constitutes
psychological/emotional abuses. Examples of such abuse are: verbal
assaults, threats, instilling fear, humiliation, intimidation, or
isolation of an elder. |
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kbt |
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Abandonment |
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Abandonment constitutes the desertion or
willful forsaking of an elder by any person having the care and custody
of that elder, under circumstances in which a reasonable person would
continue to provide care of custody. |
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