When it comes to abuse of the elderly, in many cases, it is often considered an attempt to take advantage of the elderly. According to Abels & Annes, P.C., elder abuse is a broad term that involves physical, emotional, and financial abuse. In many cases, the most common form of elder abuse is financial. Sometimes, they have lost their life savings, been defrauded, or been forced to sign over their life insurance.
In the U.S., in 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that sixty-one percent of nursing homes were identified with five or more incidents of elder abuse.
The elderly in the U.S. are generally not taken when it comes to their physical or mental health. Many cases of senior abuse go unreported due to the assumption that it's just part of life and that they've earned the right to have a little unpleasantness.
In many cases, elder abuse is a result of neglect. Many feel that the elderly are safe and well cared for in nursing homes.
Medication is usually the last line of defense for elderly citizens who have become victims of elder abuse. In some cases, seniors are left at the mercy of medicated nurses under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.
Elderly citizens are among those that are affected most by traumatic events in their lives. Often, their adult children may be too busy with their families and careers to visit their elderly parents or have the time to assist them with matters like paying their bills.
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, every state in the U.S. has laws that protect the elderly from abuse. These laws include both criminal and civil provisions. For these laws to be effective, especially in cases of neglect or financial abuse, the family members or caregivers of an elder should be aware of their rights and responsibilities so that they may make appropriate decisions in protecting the elder from harm.
When it comes to the elderly, they are more vulnerable to abuse because they are deprived of their privacy and independence. In many cases, elders lose their freedom slowly due to various causes such as illness, divorce, or the death of a spouse.
Elderly abuse is a sad reality that elderly citizens in the U.S. must endure daily. It is essential for family members and caregivers to be honest about the conditions of their elderly relatives and to make sure that they are regularly visiting them. There are laws to protect seniors from abuse in nursing homes, but everyone has a moral responsibility to do more to help prevent this form of abuse.
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