Sunday, June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day! As I sit and think about what this means several ideas came to mind. This is not your typical ‘holiday’. No one raises the flag or shoots off firecrackers. There are no picnics or special food. You don’t think “What can I get for my elder on this very special day? Perhaps she would like a pair of fuzzy slippers – or –he might like a new fishing lure.” Not that kind of day? Not a gifting day? Or is it?
When I think about the people in my life who have raised me or have had significant input into my being, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling. I know their later years will be filled with good memories, family that cares, and reasonably healthy years ahead. But through the work that I do, I realize that not all elders have good memories, families that care about them, nor can they look forward to reasonably healthy years. Here is what I have found not only through research, but in face to face contact with this vulnerable population in the state of Wisconsin:
Fact: A total of 4,372 cases of suspected abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation were reported in 2006, an increase of 3.3 percent from 2005. Tragically, 24 were fatal and another 260 were considered life threatening. About one in eleven (6.5%) involved a life-threatening or fatal situation.
Fact: 49.9% of this population lived in their own home or alone in an apartment; 39.2% of these were 80-90 years of age and; 53.4% suffered from self neglect (no one cares enough to help out/no money to get them help/caregiver burnout.)
Fact: Almost 43% of the abuse of our elderly population comes at the hands of their own sons and/or daughters. 14 % of abuse is attributed to a spouse; 10%, a neighbor or friend. Home agencies, facility staff or other service providers (nursing homes, CBRF, etc.) are responsible for 5% or greater of elder abuse.
Fact: Reporting agencies list self-neglect, financial exploitation, neglect by others, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, treatment without consent, unreasonable confinement/restraint as the kinds of abuse seen in this population
(All statistics taken from: Wisconsin’s Annual Elder Abuse and Neglect Report: 2006, Jane Raymond, Advocacy and Protection systems Developer, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services – Division of Long Term Care, Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources, Madison, WI.)
Stay tuned for next week when this series continues with a story about a victim of elder abuse…
By Jane McCauley, YWCA Abuse in Later Life Advocate
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