Nursing Home Negligence And Abuse

Understanding And Preventing Elder Care Abuse

Improved healthcare and increased life spans both have contributed to the rise in the percentage of the aged and elderly population in this country. This is definitely a positive sign. However, the social problem of elder care abuse and neglect needs to be addressed and resolved in order to improve the lives of these people.

The elderly deserve to lead a life of respect after having led a productive and useful life. As it is, the elderly have to face a number of challenges during old age. Their brain and mental faculties are not as sharp as when they were younger and they find it difficult to look after their personal needs during the advancing years.

At conservative estimates, more than 2 million elderly Americans have to face abusive behavior, mistreatment and neglect. What makes it more poignant is that the elderly are abused by people whom they trust to take care of them. The majority of abuse and neglect cases take place at home and not in institutional care.

Let us look at the types of unacceptable behavior that the elderly have to face.

On the one hand, the elderly may be subject to overt or covert abuse and on the other hand, they may be victims of willful neglect. Overt abuse takes the form of direct psychological, verbal, physical, sexual or financial abuse. The elderly may become the victims of violence or verbal abuse.

In any form, abuse is a direct violation of the fundamental rights of the aged that guarantees them a peaceful life with adequate support.

Covert abuse on the other hand is subtle forms of abuse such as taunting. This type of abuse is difficult to detect and is difficult for the elderly to express.

Neglect is the depriving of adequate medical, personal and emotional requirements of the aged. It is tantamount to abuse as neglecting the aged and not fulfilling their needs and requirements is as detrimental to the well being of the aged as direct abuse.

Neglect can be either intentional and willful or unintentional. Failing to turn an elderly patient over in the bed when the patient is asleep is a form of willful neglect. It may result in the patient developing painful sores. Failure to provide an aged person adequate nutrition, water or timely medical assistance is another form of willful neglect.

Abuse of the aged does not necessarily take place in an institution. It may also take place at home, in the company of loved ones such as spouses or children.

It is a practice that should not be condoned. Adequate education, training and sensitization to the needs of the elderly are very necessary to prevent elder care abuse. Although there are laws to prevent such abuse, much more needs to be dome to eradicate the problem.

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