Elderly Abuse

Assignment 1: Topic Selection and Proposal

The topic that I see as a problem or challenge, especially because I know minimal in depth details about it would be Elder Abuse. This is a general term used to describe certain types of harm to older adults. It is most commonly the use of power and control by one individual to affect the well-being and status of another older individual. Very often, the abuse is caused by people the older person knows or with whom they have a relationship with such as their spouse, partner of a family member, friends, neighbors and caregivers. This abuse can occur in their home or even in a residential setting or hospital. This problem needs to be researched because it many who were abused do not seek help. There are several risk factors for elderly abuse and usually include elderly people who:

-Have memory problems (such as dementia)

-Have physical disabilities

-Have depression, loneliness, or lack of social support

-Abuses alcohol or other substances

-Have a history of substance abuse or a history of abusing others

Physical signs of elder abuse are hitting, punching, slapping, burning, kicking, restraining, confinement or giving excessive or improper medication. Abusers usually try to harm where injuries won’t be seen on parts of the body usually covered by clothing. Psychological and emotional abuse may take verbal forms such as name calling, ridiculing, constantly criticizing, accusations, and general disrespect. Non -verbal forms are ignoring, silence and shunning. An abuser can use their power to identify something that matters to an older person and use it to coerce them into a particular action. This usually leads to the older person feeling ashamed, humiliated, fearful and alone.

Financial abuse is also known as financial exploitation this is the illegal or unauthorized use of a person’s property, money, pension book or other valuables gained through deception. It has been found that several elderly people have signed...