Week 12: Elder Abuse Flashcards
what is elder abuse?
single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where this is expectation of TRUST, which causes harm or distress to older person.
“elder abuse” is specifically about TRUST relationships and does not generally include: ?
self neglect or abuse by strangers
financial elder abuse?
- illegal or improper use of person’s property or finances by another person with whom they have a relationship implying trust
- most common and fastest growing
- overwhelmingly about children believing they are entitled to money. e.g trying ot become power of attorney.
physical abuse?
infliction of physical pain or injury or physical coercion
emotional abuse or psychological abuse?
infliction of mental anguish, involving actions that cause fear of violence, isolation or deprivation, and feelings of shame, indignity or powerlessness.
neglect?
failure of carer to provide necessities of life to person for whom they are caring. can be intentional or unintentional.
sexual abuse?
sexual abusive or exploitative behaviour.
biggest risk factor for elder abuse?
- having an adult child.
is gender a big factor when i comes to abuse?
not necessarily, a gendered view of violence and abuse becomes blurred when the abuse occurs in older populations
- women and men were split evenly as perpetrators of violence
what is another factor towards elder abuse other than gender?
ageism
- older peoples’ place in society and entitlement, rights to make decisions
key risk factors:
- dependency
- medical/ psychological conditions
- carer stress
- family conflict
- social isolation
- addictive behaviours
- greed and opportunism
risk factors: dependency
example: adult children being dependent on getting a carer’s payment because the elder parent lives with them (housing and income is evidence of dependency)
risk factors: medical/psychological
example: dementia
- easier to abuse someone who has a lack of capacity and is forgetful/frail
risk factors: carer stress
SW needs to be understanding and consider the supports in place. some physical signs of carer stress.
risk factors: family conflict
example: adult children disagree about decisions made on elder parent
risk factors: addictive behaviours
example: gambling
risk factors: greed and opportunism
example: “i do it because i can”
capacity and abuse: substitute decision making and risk of abuse?
- substitute decisions maker may have authority under EPOA to make financial and housing decisions - opportunity for financial abuse or neglect
capacity and abuse: carers and risk of abuse?
- carers may not have authority via EPOA but may assume authority by access to bank details or moving in with older people
capacity and abuse: this form of abuse is strongly linked to?
adult children who believe their use of assets is reasonable (prospective inheritance)
empowerment approach to conceptualising elder abuse:
- older people competent to make informed decisions (unless documented otherwise)
- support should empower elder to take action without influence
- elder’s needs and desire first, right to self-determination, and supported in choices
family caregiver causal factors for abuse:
- mainly adult-child/parent care relationships
- initially seen as caregiver burden and stress arising from dependence of the elder on the adult.
- later research now suggests it is the dependence of the adult child on the elder (esp. when adult child has mental illness - that underpins the abuse **)
main cause of abuse for family caregiver -elder abuse
the dependency of the care giver (adult child) on the elder (care receiver) , especially if the care giver has a mental illness
family violence perspective causal factors for elder abuse:
- intergenerational violence
- DV theories see abuse as arising from unequal power relationships
- usually involves mix of physical and emotional abuse
