Elderly abuse is far more common than most people realize. It can happen in a nursing home, residential facility or even in their own home. As people get older, they become more fragile and weaker.
Their minds are not as sharp as they once were. People tend to take advantage of the decline in physical and mental faculties older adults have. They don’t have the ability to stand up for themselves – to fight against a person taking advantage of them or hurting them.
While the majority of elder abuse takes place in residential homes or institutions where they are hospitalized for a prolonged period of time, it can also happen in one’s own home with a caregiver.
How do you know if a loved one is being abused? Is it physical abuse or emotional abuse? Is it possibly both? What are the signs of abuse that you need to be aware of?
Physical elderly abuse
This is the use of force that causes physical pain and disability – pushing, scratching, pulling, biting, etc. Outward signs of physical abuse
Physical Abuse Example
A social worker working at a nursing home receives a report from the in-charge nurse about two residents with blood fluids on their hands and faces. The social worker starts to ask questions of the caregiver about the bruises who adamantly denies any wrongdoing.
The caregiver provides an explanation that the residents have severe dementia and were being disruptive. They were trying to get out of their beds at night and being unruly. The social worker refuses to buy into that theory.
Based on the story and the evidence, she speaks with the department staff. Come to learn, the nursing administration learned that the caregiver was drunk at work and had hit the two residents on the face and hands after they failed to listen to her.
A committee was put together and agreed to report the matter to police and the ministry of health where the nursing home is located. The police department investigated the claim including the caregiver, social worker and in-charge nurse. The caregiver was let go from her position and was sentenced to community service.
Emotional Elderly Abuse
Being a caregiver is among the most rewarding, and at the same time, stressful occupations in the world. These people put their heart and soul into ensuring the well-being of a senior. They do anything and everything they can to put their beloved elder’s comfort and happiness above their own. Caregivers’ stress and burnout is the unfortunately common side-effect of this job.
In the case of caregivers , the psychological impact and stress upon them is significantly more and can seriously hamper their own mental health.
If you are one of those kind and loving people who are suffering from caregivers stress and burnout, then today’s article is for you. Read on to find out how to prevent the ailment and bring happiness back into your lives.
This is the use of speech and attitude that leads to emotional pain and pressure – shouting, threats, isolation of family and friends, ridicule, ignoring them, etc. Some signs of emotional abuse .
Emotional Abuse Example
A social worker is talking with a client and notices that the client is closed off and upset. Concerned, the social worker asks what’s going on. At first, the client refuses to say anything and doesn’t feel like talking.
The social worker decides to sit with the client, quiet in the hopes that she’ll want to start talking. After some time, the client feels comfortable enough to explain their mood, saying her caregiver was yelling at her, saying she is too fat.
The client tells the social worker she was afraid of retaliation by the caregiver for telling someone about what happened. The social worker talks with the caregiver who vehemently denies the action. The incident is reported to social welfare and the ministry of health.
Sexual Elderly Abuse
This is the act of having sexual intercourse against an older person’s will and can include forcing them to undress when they don’t want to, watching pornographic videos and images, forcing them to perform sexual acts, etc.
Economic Exploitation
This is the unauthorized use of a person’s property by the caregiver or other party. This includes stealing, falsify documents, extortion, robbery, etc, of a person’s financial situation that they become financially dependent on the caregiver themselves.
A client, unsure if she wanted to take on the role of guardianship for her mother who has a moderate level of dementia, came to me for help. The woman said her mother could still recognize people but did forget what day it was from time to time.
Her mother also began to suffer from delusions. She was convinced that her mother was still about to think clearly, and could make decisions for her mother. Although her doctor and I explained that the disease was rapidly progressing, the daughter refused to begin the guardianship process.
It wasn’t until her mother fell and needed surgery from her broken leg that she discovered her mother was worse off than she thought.
Doctors would not do the surgery without her mother’s permission, and since they felt she was unable to give it, they did a mental test. She scored low on the test. It was then a social worker took temporary guardianship of the mother.
This process took several days to resolve, and the mother had to remain in the hospital in pain before surgery could be performed. She was given painkillers often to help with the pain. This would never have happened if the daughter had listened and assumed guardianship over her mother.
Guardianship: Should you become one? and the legal process behind it.
Many people, as they age, have dementia. The more serious the dementia is, the more help the person will need in their day.
Elderly dementia patients are at both physical and financial risk due to their susceptibility to abuse (such as physical, emotional, financial, etc.) and their own decisions. These patients needed even more protection from predators.
For example, an older adult who refuses to allow a caregiver in their home or refuses to move to a nursing home could be deemed risking themselves and their environment.
If the same person suffers a stroke and can no longer talk and needs assistance 24 hours a day, they are no longer able to provide their input into the kind of care they will get. This is why guardianship was designed.
What Is A Guardianship?
A guardian is selected to make someone’s personal decisions for them. This is a person who is unable to decide for themselves where they will live and what kind of health care they need.
The guardian can make these decisions for them. And, an elderly person can have more than one guardian– one person can make financial decisions; another person can make healthcare decisions. Also, they can both be a guardian for both kinds of decisions.
Should You Become A Guardian For Your Loved One?
When you take on the role of guardianship, you have to let the court know every so often about how the person is doing.
Make sure you fully understand the role you are about to take on before you become their legal guardian. If becoming a legal guardian over someone sounds tedious, there are other alternatives to consider.
If an emergency arises, you could always file for a temporary guardianship, where the court assigns who the guardian will be.
The right medical devices can make all the difference between a slight injury and a life-threatening situation. They can also make the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable living.
As a senior, it doesn’t matter if you are independent or not. There are several ways to improve your health, stay safe, stay informed, do better with daily activities, and more.
Technology advances every day – this makes it possible for such great products to be developed. Read on as we introduce you to some of the best medical devices for senior living. Feel free to purchase right away if you need them.
1. HealthSmart Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
Being able to take your blood pressure readings at home or on the go is highly convenient and most seniors need this more than anything. The HealthSmart Digital Blood Pressure Monitor is a digital device that provides accurate blood pressure readings with additional benefits. It’s various features make this device senior-friendly and equally suitable for anyone else who needs it.
The HealthSmart Digital Blood Pressure Monitor comes with two different-sized cuffs. It is designed to allow you to hear your readings clearly from the talking LCD screen. The device also detects irregular heartbeats and keeps a record of precisely 120 reading history with accurate dates and times.
It is built with a two-person storage memory meaning 60 readings each in history for both persons. It is even more ideal if you are a senior couple. The high-contrast backlit screen shows you your readings along with the date, time, and any irregularities. An included BP guide is available for you to compare your readings with an internationally established standard.
It’s easy to set up, use on the go, and stay informed on your blood pressure readings. There are hardly any cons associated with this product.
2. TENS 7000 2nd Edition – medical devices top pick.
The best way to describe TENS is as a drug-free pain relief system and massager. It has been in the medical devices industry for over 10 years and is often used by doctors and physical therapists with no prescription.
TENS works by sending comfortable impulses through the skin to stimulate the nerve in the area you need treatment, thus acting as an electric massager that calms the nerves. TENS can be used easily in timed therapy sessions or on-demand. You control the intensity of TENS with the simple control knobs on the device. For seniors that need to stimulate their muscle, treat pain, muscle recovery, and more. TENS can be a lifesaving solution.
In TENS’ early years it was only used by professionals in the medical devices industry but now because of its impact and popularity with people, it is available over the counters. To use TENS all you have to do is place 4 of TENS multi-use pads on the affected area.
The pads are self-adhesive so they stay put. Select your preferred intensity level and sit back to enjoy the soothing massage. TENS is easy to use after reading the attached manual and guide. A professional such as a physician or doctor can also walk you through the process.
