On June 15, communities across the U.S. and around the world marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and worked to highlight the tragic issue of elder abuse.
Approximately one in 10 Americans aged 60 and over have experienced some form of elder abuse. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders are abused each year. That boils down to 570 per hour or nine each minute. One study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse are reported.
This abuse can be physical, emotional, financial and sexual. Elders who are abused are twice as likely to go to a hospital, four times as likely to go to nursing homes and three times as likely as their counterparts to die sooner.
Abusers come from all walks of life. Ironically, most are those who are trusted the most: family members. Not all neglect is intentional and could be the result of caregiver stress or lack of knowledge about an elder’s needs.
Elder abuse can be prevented if we educate ourselves on the warning signs and how to report elder abuse. Adult protective services, long-term care ombudsman programs and the police can all be contacted for information and assistance.
Also, any local elder care agency can provide information and services. Visit the National Center on Elder Abuse’s website, www.ncea.oao.gov, for additional information. Visit www.N4A.org for a list of elder care agencies in your area. And for caregiver support and information, go to www.caregiver.org.
Dean Lagrotteria
Florence
The writer is program director at the Highland Valley Elder Services Inc. Protective Services Program in Florence.