A
Reflection on Elder Abuse
Leslie
K. Penny
Module
8 Reflection Paper 5
Chancellor
University
Abstract
The following essay is
a reflection on my feelings towards elder abuse and how it could potentially
affect the future of my elderly parents.
The horror stories that pop up after a simple Bing search is astounding
and heartbreaking. The fact that there
are so many human beings that would stoop to such low levels as to take
advantage of those that cannot fend for themselves anymore is atrocious. But for those individuals to then physically
abuse them, even murder an elderly individual is ghastly. Awareness is always so important in these
abuse situations. The elderly cannot,
in most cases, physically get help for themselves. It is up to strangers, most of the time, to
step in and protect those that are defenseless.
A
Reflection on Elder Abuse
When one hears the words, Elder Abuse, many horror
stories probably come to mind. I am most
certain everyone has seen a report on the news of an elderly individual being
the victim of abuse by a family member, being assaulted in a criminal case, or
the absolute horrific treatment some elders have been victim to in assisted
living situations. It is a rather sad
pandemic that many do not hear about until serious injury has come to the
elderly individual or there has been a death.
Thankfully, it has gotten more public attention in recent years, since
the 80's, and is a matter we younger generation are well aware exists (Roberson,
2011).
According to Wallace and Roberson, "elder abuse is
any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver of any other person
that causes harm or serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult" (p.
287). Abuse to the elderly encompasses
physical abuse such as "inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical
pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need" (Roberson,
2011),
emotional abuse includes "inflicting
mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or
nonverbal acts" (Roberson, 2011), sexual abuse
involves non-consensual sexual contact of any kind" (Roberson,
2011),
exploitation includes "illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds,
property, or assets of a vulnerable elder" (Roberson, 2011), neglect, which is
the "refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter,
health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder" (Roberson, 2011), and, lastly, abandonment that consists
of "the desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the
responsibility for care of custody of that person" (Roberson, 2011).
It is amazing to think of what an individual is capable
of in regards to the heinous actions towards another. Especially towards the elderly who, more
often than not, cannot defend for themselves.
Elder abuse can be at the hands of their loved ones, individuals
claiming to be friends, health care workers, perfect strangers, even the
justice system. The elderly are
extremely vulnerable and it is a shame that the scum of the Earth use that to
their advantage. The thought is
frightening. Where will I end up when I
become too incapacitated to take care of myself?
Even in the case where a trusted child is put in control
and that child wants nothing more than to do exactly what his/her parent
wishes, sometimes even then the control is taken away in the legal court
system. Such is the case of Diane, who's
elderly mother had given her power of attorney as well as naming Diane her
healthcare proxy (Fargiano, 2011).
Even with this designation, Diane, with the advice from her family,
filed for legal guardianship to ensure her mother's wishes were granted as
dementia began to take a foot hold in her mother's mind (Fargiano, 2011).
However, the judge in this case decided he would make the
best decisions concerning Diane's moms care by assigning a law guardian and a
healthcare manager, removing Dianne completely from the decision making process
(Fargiano, 2011).
Make a long story short, the law guardian had a reverse mortgage
approved for $275000 on Diane's moms house, which she owned for 60 years (Fargiano, 2011). The magistrate authorized the financial
decision claiming the money would help pay for Diane's mom to live in the house
for roughly five years while, in the mean time, all of that money has already
been spent as well as $325,000 worth of social security and some small pensions
were all frittered away in a twenty-four month period (Fargiano, 2011).
The article goes on to point out several other atrocities towards
Diane's mom and it just makes you sick and angry.
A while back I saw a news report of a young health care
provider hitting an elderly man over and over again because he had soiled
himself while bed ridden. The footage
shows a very skinny old man with his twig forearms up in the air in defense while
this woman just lays into him over and over again. These were not light slaps, she was using her
whole arm, extended over her head, and just beat him. She hit his head, his chest, his
stomach. It was obvious to see that she
was in a rage and was taking the job that she willingly signed up for out on
him because she was now going to have to clean him up.
It really takes a special individual to give their love
and care for those that can't take care of themselves anymore. It breaks your heart to see and hear stories
of defenseless elderly being abused. You
think back on their life, at one point being heroes of some kind, veterans of
war, mothers who have birthed their children and worked a hard life on their feet
for decades at a time just to come to a point where all control is taken out of
their hands and be at the mercy of a paid individual or a family member waiting
for them to pass on to make out with what they can. You think about how strong an individual was
at one point who only has their freedom, personal possessions and independence
left after all of their siblings have passed on, the loss of their significant
other, or incapacitated by an illness they can't control. Some elderly are angry, scared, lack
financial funds, lack transportation, can no longer do simple tasks. It is a very scary thought. Not one I am ready to ever experience. You do not know who's hands you'll be in once
the point comes where you can no long provide or take care of yourself.
After becoming more aware if this problem that our
elderly face, it makes me feel a strong need to get out there and do what I can
to help those that are being abused. To
at least pick up on the warning signs and do something about it. Unfortunately, my Grandparents have all
passed away over a decade ago, but I am happy to report, they passed on with
those they loved and with their personal possessions around them. Now that my parents are getting on in years,
they are preparing for their inevitable need of care or death. My mother wants her last days to be on the
family farm but no one lives there anymore so there will need to be some
planning on that part. I, personally,
can't stand the thought of putting her in someone else's care. Taking her away from her home, her safety,
her identity, is a very sad thought.
Worrying that she may fall victim to elder abuse breaks my heart. All I can do is be educated in the
matter.
Works Cited
Fargiano, J. (2011, 08 30). A Heartbreaking Story
of Elder Abuse . Retrieved 04 24, 2013, from Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Heartbreaking-Story-of-Elder-Abuse&id=6530478
Roberson, H. W.
(2011). Family Violence: Legal, Medical, and Social Perspectives.
Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
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