What comes to mind when you think of elder abuse? Maybe you think of a scammer stealing money from someone with dementia. Or you could be thinking of neglect in a nursing home. Both of these scenarios are possible and have certainly happened to seniors. However, the truth about elder abuse is complex and unfortunately comes in an endless number of forms. This Next Avenue article reports on the misconceptions we tend to have about this topic. Elder abuse is a very big deal.
Many people think that elder abuse occurs primarily in long term care facilities. Yet this is not the primary place it happens. The sad truth is that seniors are usually abused by someone they know personally. A family member or friend could take money or possessions from the senior. This happens easily since it’s someone that the senior trusts to not do something so horrible. In addition, they often have easy access to the home.
Even physical abuse is not always obvious. If a senior is looking malnourished or has bruises, people can assume that it’s due to a physical ailment or a recent fall. However, it’s possible for it to be elder abuse. Especially if the person being abused is vulnerable, such as someone with dementia, as this is not uncommon.
We all know that caring for an aging person is stressful. When it’s someone with Alzheimer’s or another chronic disease, it’s overwhelming. People might assume that if a caregiver were to abuse their patient, it is because they are simply overwhelmed and stressed out. However, placing the blame on the patient only makes the perpetrator be the victim. It is important to note that luckily, the vast majority of caregivers will never abuse their patients.
Unfortunately, intelligence has nothing to do with the likelihood of elder abuse occurring. Scammers can attack anyone, regardless of intelligence. This form of elder abuse plays with the senior’s emotions, rather than intelligence.
It is very important to recognize the signs of elder abuse and report it. If you even suspect something may be going on, you should always report it to both the police and to Adult Protective Services. Once the damage is done, it is hard for the senior to recover either emotionally, physically, and/or financially. Companies like Arizona Elder Care know how to investigate and deal with elder abuse. In fact, we have four certified Court Investigators on staff. While it may not happen to you, knowing the facts could protect someone from becoming a victim of elder abuse.