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
Factors that May Affect Mental Capacity
7
1. Illness or Disease Treatable Factors 2. Poor Nutrition/Malnutrition 3. Dehydration 4. Depression 5. Medication Interactions 6. Sleep Deprivation 7. Time of Day
What is undue influence?
“Persuasion, pressure, or influence short of actual force, but stronger than mere advice, that so overpowers the dominated party’s free will or judgment that he or she cannot act intelligently and voluntarily, but acts, instead, subject to the will or purposes of the dominating party.”
Black’s Law Dictionary
UI – How Does It Work
6 factors
- The victim and exploiter are often in an ongoing relationship
- Exploiters may target and groom their victims
- Exploiters are generally subtle in their exploitation of their victims
- Exploiters are often charming manipulators
- Exploiters justify their actions through various excuses
- Victims often appear as willing participants
What is the definition of consent?
Consent is when someone accepts or agrees to something that somebody else proposes. For consent to be legal and proper – the person consenting needs to have sufficient mental capacity to understand the implications and ramifications of his or her actions.
Legal Elements of Consent? 3
- Mental Capacity
- Knowledge of the true nature of the act/transaction
- Act freely and voluntarily
Dementia & Alzheimer’s: Opportunities for Financial Exploitation?
3
- Unable to report
- May not be believed
- May not be able to recognize financial exploitation
Polyvictimization: definition?
Exposure to multiple types of violence or victimization
What is guardianship?
is a legal process, utilized when a person can no longer make or communicate safe or sound decisions about his/her person and/or property or has become susceptible to fraud or undue influence. Because establishing a guardianship may remove considerable rights from an individual, it should only be considered after alternatives to guardianship have proven ineffective or are unavailable.
Adult Protective Services
Authorized & budgeted through the state (6 regions around state)
Reporting guidelines:
3
- Abuse does not need to be confirmed
- Provide as much detail as possible
- Reports are confidential & reporter not disclosed to victim, family or abuser
