Senior Citizen Graphic Elder Abuse Awareness

What Should I Know?

We all hope that our loved ones will live out their lives in dignity and comfort. And that if a nursing home is part of their long-term care, that it will be a pleasant, peaceful place where they write their last chapter.

But sometimes, what happens inside, when we can’t be there, is a very different story.

Who Knows How Many?

Abuse and mistreatment of our seniors takes place in many facilities. And they take many forms—from the most extreme to basic neglect. To the Department of Health and Human Services, even actions that create just a serious risk of harm—even if that harm is unintended—constitutes mistreatment.

Each year, up to 2 million of our seniors suffer some form of abuse at hands of the very people we trust to care for them. But for most incidents, you’ll never find a record. That’s because hundreds of thousands of these cases go unreported. In fact, the National Center on Elder Abuse (or NCEA), estimated that only 1 in 14 cases ever reaches the authorities. A study by New York State paints an even more disturbing picture: for every one case of elder abuse that various programs and agencies are aware of, twenty-four are completely unknown. It’s such a big problem, the Department of Justice has been creating task forces with the sole purpose of making nursing homes accountable for the care they are—or aren’t—providing.

It would be comforting to think that inside America’s nursing homes, the staff members who mistreat our loved ones are just a few bad apples. And that if our parent or grandparent were being harmed, other professionals would catch it.  But professionals often miss the signs of elder abuse—not because they don’t care, but because they don’t have the training. Even more disturbing, an NCEA report found that over 50% of nursing home staff admitted to having mistreated the elders in their care—whether through physical abuse, mental abuse, or neglect.

And our loved ones may be suffering in silence. Many do not report their mistreatment. Some are afraid of angering their abusers. Others don’t have the physical or mental ability they need to communicate what is happening to them. In fact, the NCEA reports that seniors who have dementia are at a greater risk of being abused than those who don’t. In fact, a report issued for the NCEA by USC’s Keck School of Medicine cited some chilling findings: 20% of those caring for those suffering from dementia were fearful that they would be come violent with those in their care—while between 5 and 10% reported that they actually were.

SAY NOTHING, RISK EVERYTHING

The risks associated with elder abuse are not limited to injuries themselves. Seniors who suffer abuse—even moderate abuse—have a three hundred percent greater risk of death than the non-abused.  And those who are abused violently have more health problems than other adults. They might suffer from chronic pain, high blood pressure, heart problems, depression or anxiety, problems with their digestive systems, and problems with their bones or joints.

As our loved ones age, it’s as if we change places with them. In some ways, we become the parent—protecting them, making sure they are cared for, and advocating for their interests. Looking out for them is never more urgent than in situations where they could be victims of abuse or neglect.

PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS
If it's possible that you or someone you love experienced elder abuse or neglect, please share your story with our team of advisors. We want to help.

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