Elderly Abuse

The definition for elderly abuse varies. A common middle ground in all definitions is that elderly abuse is any physical, psychological, or maternal abuse towards an elderly person. In summary, it is the violation of the elder’s rights to safety, security and adequate healthcare. (Wyandt). Due to the various definitions of elderly abuse across the board, the act has been categorized in different typologies. Physical abuse, Verbal/Psychological abuse and financial abuse are three main types of elderly abuse. Regardless of the type of abuse, it will certainly result in unnecessary suffering, injury or pain, the loss or violation of human rights, and a decreased quality of life for the older person (Hudson)
When discussing about abuse and neglect,
Research also suggests that older people who have been abused tend to die earlier than those who have not been abused, even in the absence of chronic conditions or life-threatening disease. (NCOA) Elderly abuse result in serious consequences. Elder abuse can destroy an elderly person's quality of life in the forms of declining functional abilities, increased dependency, increased sense of helplessness, increased stress, worsening psychological decline, premature mortality and morbidity, depression and dementia, malnutrition, bed sores, and ultimately death. Thus, the risk of untimely death for abused elders is three times greater than that for not abused elders.
It is more difficult for the elderly to leave an abusive relationship because of the physical impairments that usually come with old age. In most cases, the greatest dilemma is how to balance the older person’s right to self-determination with the need to take action to end the abuse. Goals for prevention include enhancing quality of life, preventing family breakdown, and keeping the elderly persons in their homes as long as possible. Intervention appears to be one of the best ways of