Posted on 10/13/2018 8:01:35 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
WASHINGTON, DC – As the population ages, incidents of elder abuse increase, according to the World Health Organization. WHO estimates that almost 17% of seniors 60 years of age and older have experienced some form of abuse over the past 12 months.
“Nearly 42 million residents of the U.S. are 60 years old. That means more than seven million seniors were ill-treated by caregivers, family members and even friends last year. But, the alarming fact is that segment of the population is growing exceptionally fast. In fact, each day 10,000 more citizens turn 65. The Census Bureau estimates that by the year 2035, 78 million citizens and immigrants living in America will be 65 years old and older. Does that mean 17% of them, 13 or 14 million seniors, will be in danger of being victimized,” asks Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
It is up to state and local governments to ensure that vulnerable senior citizens are protected, but it is also a responsibility for friends and family.
Most of the abuse takes place in institutional settings. Nearly two-thirds of abuse takes place in institutional settings such as nursing homes. The onus is on the public sector authorities that oversee those facilities to make sure those who are being cared for in those residences are safe.
Weber has called on government overseers to use their powers to ensure the safety of nursing home residents. “Family members need to get involved, too. They need to thoroughly check out facilities for loved ones who need them. They must find out if there is a past history of abuse. Once a family member takes up residency in a home, they should make regular, unscheduled visits to make sure they are not being mistreated.”
However, nearly 16% of abuse takes place in a victims’ own homes, whether they are living alone or with family members. “And, it is up to friends and family members to look in on them on a regular basis and deal with any threatening situations. An errant caregiver and even a frustrated son, daughter, niece or nephew may be engaging in physical, psychological or financial abuse. But it can’t be spotted and stopped if a responsible third party is not keeping tabs on an at-risk friend or relative.”
Weber suggests that when engaging a professional caregiver, make sure you do a thorough background check. But, he says, it is important to provide the individual you hire with fair terms of employment—including ensuring that he or she has a manageable work schedule. “It’s a difficult, and sometimes thankless job. They must have a routine that allows for breaks when needed.”
And, lest it is overlooked, the patient may also be a victim of self-neglect, a condition that is particularly prevalent among those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at https://amac.us/join-amac.
To many families shut grandma in a nursing home and forget about her.
Yes, and allow not so American nursing aides to take care of them.
the instances of “elder abuse” I am aware of was within their own family. It was verbal, and manipulating money. The ‘elder” could have and should have stopped it years ago, but allowed it to continue.
an outsider cannot step in, because the abused party will deny everything.
It’s tough!
I’m having minor surgery this week. I’m 70. My kids are freaking out. Our daughter and granddaughter are taking off work to be there and our son is flying in two days after. I’m so blessed.
good luck!
“Yes, and allow not so American nursing aides to take care of them.”
My Dad is in a Memory Care/Assisted Living situation. It’s very nice and everyone is cheerful and helpful and the ‘inmates’ all look well cared for.
His caregivers are White, Black and Hispanic - BUT I am there every week checking on him and I know them all by name.
That would help with some of this. Its a shame so many people live so far away from their core families now for jobs or whatever. :(
Don’t ask my mom please! (Alzheimer’s 8 years, I’m her caregiver) She will tell you I abuse her because I force her to have her protein first to get ice cream! (Diabetes and sugar addiction)
I’m in my mid-60s and have been suffering all sorts of abuse....from the radical left.....;-}
Very familiar with the care of parents. As regards “Assisted Living” and nursing homes... the guardian should also be aware of the “ever helpful” staff of these places, who are paid.... PAID to ‘help’ residents fill out their
absentee ballots. Personally witnessed them attempting this with both of our parents in a facility— and demanded the ballots from their hands to be returned to the elections board for replacement ballots, requested on official absentee requests.
Now— WHERE would the aid staff or the facility management get blank ballots in bulk? HMMMM? It was just a sliver of the illegal stuff done by demonrats in elections— ballot stuffing from NON-precinct absentee ballots.
We brought this to the State (FL) and they shut it down and prosecuted (owners are corporatist liberal a-holes), BUT some states would do nothing .
FReepers— be aware of this voting scam with your elderly kinfolk— check it out, by staying in better touch with them, see them frequently. This was off the page angering.
Incidentally, no surprise, the ballots were “assisted” to fill out major dem candidates and liberal agenda.
There’s nothing quite as joyful as trying to get your elderly parents to eat. /s
That look, the glare, and the question, “Why are you being so mean to me” come to mind.
Lol. Oh, she wants to eat, all right! And once a day she gets her fruit in milk, and she talks to me like I’m the greatest thing in the world and I’ve just given her manna from the gds. And then after dinner (protein first!) she gets her ice cream.... she is in heaven! Lol. But she pushes the main course around the plate like a toddler... ;)
Anyone else carrying a “Don’t hit me I’m over 70!” card with them? ;-)
I’ll be watching for this in this election...my MIL is in assisted living 2 hours away. She was AUTOMATICALLY re-registered in our county when we had her mail forwarded to our address 9 months ago to help get control of some things like bills, etc. Her ballot will likely come to OUR house, but will try and find out if one also goes to her at the Assisted Living place.
All FReepers should be aware of this and any other of their leftist “kin” who vote absentee in several different states. We have one... whom no love is lost with— whom we are reporting in writing. Voted falsely in the 2016 from parents former address— which was sold and the lot scraped off and still the idiots at election board took the ballot. Didn’t help.
She’s “in” 3 states, and this, in federal elections is a Federal crime.
Liberalism — ideas so good that you must cheat in elections to implement them!
Well, she is lucky! All the best to her!
My great aunt had diabetes too and in her last year of life lost one leg and then the other, so I’m just letting mom have those two treats. She gets a great home cooked diet daily, whether she appreciates it or not, lol.
Oh, no. I’m on it! Dad is registered and his absentee ballot is being mailed to MY address and I will fill it out with him. :)
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