The Swamp
Discrimination against older persons that limits the older adult’s lives to their full potential and devalues them as individuals.
What is Ageism?
This form of abuse is severely under reported because 85% of older adult victims do not report and medical professionals are uncomfortable discussing with their patients.
What is sexual abuse?
While not a form of “abuse” this is the most reported issue to Adult Protective Services and is an important factor that can lead to elder abuse.
What is self-neglect?
If we understand these, we can better develop responses to elder abuse.
What are the risk and vulnerability factors of elder abuse?
A bruise that is shaped like the object that caused the injury.
What is a patterned bruise? or What is an indicator of physical abuse?
A shared belief in our society that everyone should be treated equally.
What is Justice?
An individual, who has assumed the role of the caregiver for an older adult and drops the older adult off at a hospital ER and leaves.
What is abandonment?
There is no one consistent definition of this term and definitions can vary from state to state.
What is the definition of “elder abuse”?
When a caregiver of an older adult obtains financial support, housing, emotional, or other support from the older adult.
What is dependency, a risk factor for abusers?
The victim may become resistant to being cared for by a particular caregiver or receiving personal care such as bathing, dressing or toileting.
What is an indicator of sexual abuse?
This is the metaphor used to describe the systems that are needed to address elder abuse.
What is structure or building with support beams?
A caregiver fails to provide the older adult with necessary medications that prevent the older adult from suffering serious health issues.
What is caregiver neglect?
When professionals from a variety of disciplines work together to prevent and address issues of elder abuse.
What is a multidisciplinary or integrated approach to elder abuse?
Two factors that can affect both the abuser or victim and increase the risk for physical abuse.
What are physical health and mental health problems?
Unpaid bills when there is means of payment, uncharacteristic change in spending habits, or changes made to the older person's will.
What is are indicators of financial exploitation?
The response to an elder abuse issue that provides a collective, systemic approach.
What are the solutions to elder abuse?
The illegal or improper use of a vulnerable adult's funds, property, or assets.
What is the definition of financial exploitation?
Increased health problems, increased hospitalizations, premature admittance to a nursing facility, depression, and increased mortality.
What are outcomes of elder abuse?
This risk factor can affect victim and abuser, can cause an individual to make poor decisions, become socially isolated, and lead to increased risk for self-neglect for older adults.
What is substance abuse?
Bed sores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene and unusual weight loss.
What are indicators of caregiver neglect?
Historically, due to the way society views older adults they are devalued and as a result, there are not enough of these
What are policies that address elder abuse?
The infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts.
What is the definition of emotional abuse?
The concept that we are all aging and want to have systems in place to ensure we can age with dignity and without the fear of abuse.
Why does the issue of elder abuse matter?
A risk factor that is consistent for all types of abuse.
What is social isolation?
Older adult does not answer questions themselves, but defers to their caregiver.
What is an indicator of emotional abuse?