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The causes of insomnia and what to do when you can't sleep Do you feel anxious about the future? This mindfulness meditation can help. We spoke to sleep experts, spoke to mattress users, and tested mattresses to bring you our eight best options. Are you or know an older adult who is being abused, abandoned, or financially exploited? These guidelines can help you spot warning signs and stop abuse. Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, or sexual harm inflicted on an older adult, their financial exploitation, or the neglect of their well-being by people who are directly responsible for their care. Alone, more than half a million complaints of elder abuse reach the authorities each year, and millions more cases go unreported.
As older adults become more physically frail, they are less able to care for themselves, cope with bullying, or defend themselves if attacked. Mental or physical illnesses can make them more difficult companions for those who live with them. And they may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as before, leaving opportunities for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. If you suspect that an elderly person is at risk of being the victim of the negligence or burden of their caregiver, or that they are being the victim of economic attacks, it is important to speak up. Everyone deserves to live in safety, with dignity and respect.
These guidelines can help you recognize the warning signs of elder abuse, understand what the risk factors are, and learn to prevent and report the problem. Ask him about a horrible bruise on his forearm. Oh, it was just an accident, she explains; the car door closed. He says goodbye quickly and returns to the house. Elder abuse takes many different forms: some involve intimidation or threats against older people, others involve neglect, and others involve financial deception.
The non-accidental use of force against an elderly person that causes physical pain, injury, or impairment. This abuse includes not only physical assaults, such as hitting or shoving, but also inappropriate drug use, restraint, or confinement. Contact with an elderly person without their consent. This contact can include physical sexual acts, but activities such as showing pornographic material to an elderly person, forcing them to see sexual acts, or forcing them to undress are also considered sexual abuse of older people.
The unauthorized use of an elderly person's funds or assets, whether by a caregiver or an outside fraudster. Breach of an obligation of care This constitutes more than half of all reported cases of elder abuse. It can be intentional or unintentional, and is based on factors such as ignorance or denial that an older person needs as much care as they do. Self-neglect can be a sign of depression, grief, dementia, or another medical problem, and in many cases, the older person will refuse to seek help.
They may deny it, feel embarrassed about needing help, or worry about losing their independence. Signs of elder abuse can be difficult to recognize or to confuse with symptoms of dementia or frailty in older people, or those who care for the elderly can explain them that way. In fact, many of the signs and symptoms of elder abuse match symptoms of mental decline, but that doesn't mean you should ignore them when your caregiver says so. Frequent arguments or tensions between the person caring for the older person and changes in the older person's personality or behavior may be general signs.
of mistreatment. If you suspect abuse, but aren't sure, you can look for groups of the following warning signs. It's hard to care for an older person who has a lot of different needs, and it's hard to be older when age brings illness and dependence. Both the demands of providing care and the needs of older people can create situations in which abuse is more likely to occur.
Many non-professional caregivers (spouses, adult children, other family members and friends) find caring for an older person satisfying and enriching. However, the responsibilities and demands of providing care, which increase as the elderly's condition deteriorates, can also cause significant stress. The stress of caring for older people can cause physical and mental health problems that exhaust, impatient, and are more susceptible to neglecting or attacking older people in their care. Even caregivers who are in institutional settings can experience levels of stress that lead to elder abuse.
Nursing home staff may be prone to mistreating older people if they lack training, have too many responsibilities, are not fit for care, or work in poor conditions. Recognizing that you have a problem is the most important step in getting help and preventing abuse. Take immediate steps to alleviate stress and exhaustion. Stress is one of the major contributing factors to elder abuse and neglect.
You can help lower your stress levels by regularly practicing stress-relieving techniques, such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. Get help for any substance abuse problem. It's never easy, but there are many steps you can take to address drug or alcohol abuse. Call and visit as often as you can so that the older person sees in you a person they can trust.
Pay attention to financial abuse by asking the older person if you can check their bank accounts and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions. Identify warning signs of abuse or neglect and report them promptly. If you are an older person who is being abused, abandoned, or exploited, tell at least one person. Tell your doctor, a friend, or a family member you trust.
Or call one of the help lines listed then. If you witness an older adult being abused or abandoned, don't hesitate to report the situation. And if you see cases of abuse in the future, keep calling them to report them. Every report of elder abuse is a snapshot of what's happening.
The more information you can provide, the greater the chances that the elderly will receive the quality care they need. Older adults can become increasingly isolated from society and, with no work to attend to, it can be easy for cases of abuse to go unnoticed for long periods of time. Do not face the aggressor yourself. This can put the older person in greater danger, unless you have the elder's permission and can immediately transfer them to an alternative, safe care facility. If a person caring for a family member is suspected of being abusive, other family members may be more likely to convince the older adult to consider alternative care.
Feelings of shame can often keep elder abuse hidden. You may not want to believe that a family member is capable of abusing a loved one, or you may even think that the older adult would be angry with you for speaking out. But the sooner you intervene in a situation of elder abuse, the better the outcome for everyone involved. Even if the older person refuses your help, keep communicating with them. Recruit other people to express their feelings of concern to them.
Sometimes, a partner or a neutral person, such as a geriatric care manager, may be more likely to succeed. Make sure the older adult is connected to medical services. Since personal neglect can have medical causes, if possible, share your concerns with the elderly's doctor. Offer in-home services to older people on a trial basis.
This can help them to see the positive changes they may experience and to be willing to consider other types of care. For example, encourage them to try a cleaning service for a month or a meal delivery service for a few weeks. Tour assisted living or other senior housing facilities without any immediate pressure to move. This can help to dispel any myths or eradicate an older person's fears of moving.
Recognize the signs of an abusive relationship and seek help Recognize the signs of abuse and leave safely. If you are caring for an older person and feel that you are in danger of hurting or neglecting them, help and support are available. This type of contact can include physical sexual acts, but activities such as showing an elderly person pornographic material, forcing them to watch sexual acts, or forcing them to undress are also considered sexual abuse of older people. In any situation of elder abuse, it can be a real challenge to respect an older adult's right to autonomy and, at the same time, to ensure that they receive appropriate care.
They'll ask you questions about your loved one, discuss your options, and give you contact information for places you can call. I have an older neighbor who is in a wheelchair, he has a son who stays with him, but disappears for three or four straight days.
