Domestic Violence Site : Elder Abuse

It may sound shocking, but the overwhelming majority of the elder abuse cases are committed by one's own family members. Three out of five elder victimization cases are family-centered, reports the National Association of Adult Protective Services Administrators in 2000. "Family abuse is, by far, the most common type of elder abuse and, with more than four out of every five of these cases unreported, the extent of this abuse extends far beyond what we know today," said Louisiana Senator John Breaux, a ranking member of the Committee.

Chances are you have already made the decision to put your mother or father into an institution that can best care for their later life needs. Perhaps you felt guilty about it, but deep down knew you couldn't handle the stress and time-consumption of being an at-home caregiver. You want to be sure all of your parent's needs are being met and that he or she is happy, although seniors aren't always candid about being abused; perhaps out of fear, humiliation, ignorance of the signs, deep depression or the normalization of violence. Therefore, it's up to you to watch out for symptoms of abusive relationships within the nursing home.

There are several types of elder abuse you should look out for, such as physical, sexual and emotional, as well as neglect and financial exploitation. In addition to hitting, kicking, slapping or physically restraining the victim using excessive force, physical abuse may also include using inappropriate tie-downs or straps, over-medicating and under-medicating. Your loved one should never have repeated groin injuries, eye welts, appear withdrawn, suffer burns or have repeated bruises. Evidence of sexual abuse may include torn or bloody clothing, a sudden venereal disease outbreak, genital pain, itching or bruising.

Since you are not likely to check these sorts of things, be sure your loved one sees the appropriate doctor for regular check-ups. You may notice emotional abuse if your loved one appears frightened around certain caregivers, generally withdrawn or depressed, or if the elder suddenly develops weird habits like biting, rocking and scratching. You should also keep a close eye on the elder's bank statements to ensure there is no financial exploitation going on, and also be sure there is no evidence of neglect, such as bed sores, dehydration, poor hygiene or unsupervised wandering.

If you suspect elder abuse, then you should call attention to the staff members or staff supervisor. If you are unsatisfied with that, you can submit a formal complaint. For serious or persistent problems, you can consult a legal attorney specialized in elder issues, like Brayton Purcell, or government organizations like the Department of Social Services, the Center of Medicaid/Medicare and the National Center on Elder Abuse Partners. It goes without saying that you should find an alternate facility if you suspect physical abuse or if your loved one's needs are not being met.

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Today's Tip On Domestic Violence

Do you feel trapped by a pattern of victimization? Perhaps you were molested as a child by someone you knew, an event you'd rather forget. Later, in college, you were taken advantage of by your date when you passed out in a drunken stupor. Now, you're in a relationship where your partner calls you names, phones you constantly at work and gets irrationally angry all the time. There are many resources for victims of domestic violence in America. While it may seem like a personal matter, it's moreover a matter of your personal safety. Every year, there are more than one million violent acts against women and 30% of all female murders are committed by lovers or former lovers.