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The older adult who can no longer live independently may be
particularly vulnerable to mistreatment in the form of physical
assault, psychological or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial
manipulation, or neglect. The most likely perpetrators of abuse are
persons well acquainted with or in continual contact with the
dependent individual. These could be family or non-family members who
become caregivers, spouses or significant others, or professional
caregivers.
Elder abuse is prevalent throughout the United States, with approximately 1 million known cases occurring annually. The syndrome is characterized by the infliction of physical, emotional, or psychological harm on an older adult. Abuse can occur through unwitting or deliberate actions. Most cases of abuse are committed in residential rather than institutional settings, and the most likely culprits are spouses, children, siblings, relatives, or paid caregivers. In older persons, the most common types of maltreatment are neglect, emotional/psychological abuse, and physical abuse. Common factors at the root of elder abuse include:
Telling behaviors Behavior patterns reveal a lot about the relationship between the patient and his caregiver. How do they interact? Do they smile or laugh together or sit in stony silence? Is the caregiver's tone soft and soothing or loud and threatening? Does he touch the patient gently, roughly, or not at ail? Pay close attention to your patient's behavior. Anxiety, agitation, confusion, withdrawal, fearfulness, depression, aggressiveness, suspiciousness, hallucinations, or talk of suicide all may signal mistreatment. PEG GRAY-VICKREY, RN,C, DNS Associate Professor College of Health Professions COPYRIGHT 1999 Springhouse Corporation |