It stands to reason that the more time and money we commit to something, the more value we place on it. Unfortunately, if we look at the issue of America’s elderly in this regard, the implication is that the elderly are not valued. Instead of being revered for wisdom gained through years of life experience, often times the elderly are treated as an annoying obligation, and worse, they are often abused by those entrusted to their care. Since values determine the parameters of behavior that is considered socially acceptable, this does not speak well of America’s value system.
It is estimated between 1 and 2 million Americans aged 65 or older have been hurt, exploited, or mistreated by someone they depend on for care. Elder abuse can take various forms such as, financial, physical, neglect, and psychosocial. Of these types, the latter is the commonest. Ironically, statistical information indicates while American’s life expectancy length continues to rise, overall health and disability continue to worsen. The resulting frailty of the elderly and their dependence on the help of family members or care givers leaves them vulnerable to the potential abuse from those providing support, and thus is a risk factor for various forms of abuse.
Isolation from community and forms of mental instability, such as dementia, are key risk factors in elder abuse, in both the family care home environment, and residential facilities. When a dependent person is isolated from community, it makes detection of the abuse nearly impossible, whereas, the existence of social relationships can provide a level of protection in preventing abuse. Additional risk factors include, depression experienced by either caregiver and/or dependent, dependent’s denied victimization, and stress experienced by caregivers. Furthermore, in a living residential facility additional risk factors for abuse have been identified as, institutional regimen, improper work organization, selection of unqualified employees, and understaffing.
In order to help ensure the safety of this population, some key proponents are increased public awareness, with easy access to information and services for victims of elder abuse, support groups for family caregivers, enabling a reduction in their stress level, along with stricter requirements for residential facility care givers, such as mandatory background screening of employees. Social work professionals, gerontologists, service providers, the law enforcement community, and the general public must be aware of and vigilant to the warning signs of abuse and equally as important, they must know where to turn for help. A first step would be to contact the National Center on Elder Abuse/NCEA (www.ncea.aoa.gov ) to obtain information on local reporting laws, and local assistance available.
Sadly, Americans somehow have become more selfish throughout the years, perhaps in part due to the capitalistic society that encourages greedy, selfish behavior. While I believe individualism is good in a sense, it seems to have been taken to the extreme in modern society, the value of community has fallen by the wayside. We need to recognize the importance of helping and caring for others, not just for the recipients benefit but for the providers as well.
