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Essay on Geriatric Abuse
The fast growth of American older adult population, together with sharp understanding of the demands of care giving for older adults, has focused research and public policy interest on the abuse and neglect of this population (Lachs et al., 1997; Pillemer and Finkelhor, 1988; Tueth, 2000). Despite the fact that significantly elder abuse remains a hidden problem, various studies have identified risk factors for abuse of the aged by family members and other caregivers.
Such factors include excessive physical and psychological demands associated with care giving; advanced age, poor health, physical frailty and impaired activities of daily living (ADL) on the part of the care recipient; alcohol and other substance abuse by caregivers; the caregiver and care recipient living together; caregiver psychopathology; and a family history of abusive behavior. Besides, a number of investigators have found that mental health factors such as depression and dementia increase the risk of abuse within a caregiving relationship.
Abuse, which may be broadly defined to include physical, psychological, sexual and financial maltreatment, may be the outcome of the actions of others (e.g., caregivers) or may result from disregard by others or by self (Dyer et al., 2000). Prevalence estimates differ widely, ranging from 1% to 12% (Tueth, 2000), although conflicting estimates may basically be a function of both the definition of abuse employed in a study and the methodology used to measure it.
Older people constitute a majority - and growing - proportion of people who receive nursing care in the United States. Currently 13% of the nation's population, over 25 million people, is over 65 years of age. This represents an eight-fold increase in the last 80 years; triple that of the population as a whole......
