Olwyn KinderElder Abuse The Silent Menace
January 8th 2010 01:27
Regrettably elder abuse can be quite prevalent within residential aged care facilities. It is frequently the silent menace that often goes unreported or simply ignored by those with the authority to do something about it.
Elder abuse can take various forms which makes it extremely difficult to pinpoint in many circumstances. When we think of abuse we automatically think of physical assaults of some description like hitting, punching, beating, biting to name just a few. Even though physical abuse is a problem it is much more difficult to conceal than say emotional or mental abuse which can be even more heinous and terrifying than that of physical attacks. If a resident is kicked or bashed the bruising, swelling and even broken bones cannot be hidden and even if the perpetrator has a convincing reason why the resident has been hurt, or better still why he or she is not responsible for the injuries, suspicious is immediately aroused and the person or persons involved are more likely to be carefully watched in case similar accidents occur in the future.
It can be quite a different story altogether in the case of emotional or psychological abuse such as teasing, name calling or intimidation. These are often covered up by the clever perpetrator with the victim even be seen to be responsible in some circumstances for what has been happening to them.
Frail aged persons with memory laspses and suffering from vagueness and confusion do not make convincing witnesses. As such any evidence they provide to support their claim of abuse can often be seen as the senseless ramblings of a muddled old person who doesn't know what they are talking about.
It is important to realise that abuse can be inflicted on residents by other residents as well as care staff, relatives, friends or visitors. It is essential that if you or a family member reside in a residential aged care facility that you familiarise yourself with the correct process to follow if you or your family member are ever subjected to such abuse.
Remember elder abuse is a criminal offense and is not to be tolerated. Take a stand to not only safeguard yourself or your family member but to prevent harm being inflicted on other residents within the aged care facility in which you or your family member reside.
Elder abuse can take various forms which makes it extremely difficult to pinpoint in many circumstances. When we think of abuse we automatically think of physical assaults of some description like hitting, punching, beating, biting to name just a few. Even though physical abuse is a problem it is much more difficult to conceal than say emotional or mental abuse which can be even more heinous and terrifying than that of physical attacks. If a resident is kicked or bashed the bruising, swelling and even broken bones cannot be hidden and even if the perpetrator has a convincing reason why the resident has been hurt, or better still why he or she is not responsible for the injuries, suspicious is immediately aroused and the person or persons involved are more likely to be carefully watched in case similar accidents occur in the future.
It can be quite a different story altogether in the case of emotional or psychological abuse such as teasing, name calling or intimidation. These are often covered up by the clever perpetrator with the victim even be seen to be responsible in some circumstances for what has been happening to them.
Frail aged persons with memory laspses and suffering from vagueness and confusion do not make convincing witnesses. As such any evidence they provide to support their claim of abuse can often be seen as the senseless ramblings of a muddled old person who doesn't know what they are talking about.
It is important to realise that abuse can be inflicted on residents by other residents as well as care staff, relatives, friends or visitors. It is essential that if you or a family member reside in a residential aged care facility that you familiarise yourself with the correct process to follow if you or your family member are ever subjected to such abuse.
Remember elder abuse is a criminal offense and is not to be tolerated. Take a stand to not only safeguard yourself or your family member but to prevent harm being inflicted on other residents within the aged care facility in which you or your family member reside.
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Comment by Beth Charette
[B]On the other hand, we need to be careful that we don't make it so impossible to care for the elderly that everything becomes abuse.
When there is a disagreement in a care facility, is raising one's voice to an elderly individual grounds for "elder abuse?"
Is holding an elderly person down who is becoming violent for no apparent reason elder abuse?
In our society, I can find at least five categories that, if I chose to do so, I could file for one kind of abuse or another, or one kind of abuse orYour text goes here another.
We absolutely must stop looking for reasons to claim victim status in our society.
As it is, with all the lawyers about, we can barely breathe without ending up in court.
Please be careful.
Beth[/B]