Elder Abuse Flashcards
Definitions
Elder Abuse:
According to MT Law?
“Elder abuse is the infliction of physical or mental injury; or (b) the deprivation of food, shelter, clothing, or services necessary to maintain the physical or mental health of an older person or persons with a developmental disability with lawful authority.”
Define the following:
1. Elder /Senior Citizens?
- Vulnerable Adult?
- Women are ___% more likely to be abused than men
- a person who is 60+ years of age or older
- person age 60 or older (18 & older if person has disability) who is being abused neglected or exploited
- 35
Name the most common perpetrator of elder abuse in order of prevalance? 4
- 33% of alleged perpetrators are adult children
- 22% are other family members
- 11% are spouses/partners
- 16% are strangers
Close to 90% are known by victims
Who are the Victims
– Risk Factors?
6
- Age
- Social isolation
- Extreme dependence and frailty
- Severe mental and/or physical illness
- Female gender
- Low to modest financial resources
Barriers to Reporting Elder Abuse
5
- Fear
- Protecting the Abuser
- Social Isolation
- Self-Blame/Denial
- Inability to Report (mental and physical impairments)
Elder Abuse Red Flags in senior citizens
8
- Personality changes
- Sudden physical changes in appearance and abilities
- They seem nervous or afraid
- Confusion about transactions or withdrawals
- Unable to remember signing documents
- Property is transferred or missing
- Level of care they are receiving is inconsistent with their resources
- Signs of substance abuse
What are sweetheart swindles?
Uses loneliness and the perception that something is missing in the victim’s life to exploit
- What is physical abuse?
2. What problems stop this abuse from being discovered? 3
- physical force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment. It includes assault, battery, and inappropriate restraint.
- Behavioral – Delay between onset of injury and seeking medical care
- Victims taken to different medical facilities for treatment
- Explanations for injuries differ
- What is domestic violence?
2. Which situations can affects elders in this regard? 2
- Domestic violence is an escalating pattern of violence or intimidation by an intimate partner, which is used to gain power and control.
- Domestic violence grown old
- Late onset domestic violence
- Sexual abuse defined as?
2. Indicators?
- is non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an older person
- Indicators: Fear of being touched
Strange bruising, unexplained STD
- What is neglect defined as?
2. Self neglect?
- Neglect
failure to fulfill a person’s obligations or duties to an elder. Can be willful/intentional such as withholding food/medicine or unintentional (caregiver burnout) - Self neglect
failure by oneself to provide goods or services to avoid serious threat to physical or mental health
Why Do People Hoard?
5
- Extreme emotional attachment
- Difficulty with decision making
- Perfectionism
- Responsibility
- Fear of making a mistake
Hoarding
Consequences? 5
- condition of the home may prevent repairs from taking place
- possible loss of heat, running water, electricity, and refrigeration
- social service agencies not being able to provide services
- greater risk for falls
- medical emergency teams unable to gain access to home
Psychological /verbal abuse
What is it?
Indicators of this? 2
- Infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, or other verbal or nonverbal conduct
- weight loss,
- no eye contact when asking questions
Fianancial Exploitation
- What is it?
- Indicators?
- Illegal or improper use of an older persons funds, property or resources
- Indicators: Concerned about costs