Caring for the needs of our elderly relatives or other elders we are responsible for is something most of us do with compassion and patience. We do this month after month and year after year, and its hard for us to imagine anyone caregiving in any other way. Unfortunately, there is a small minority of caregivers out there, both paid and family, who do not hold this philosophy.
Because of them, elder abuse has become a significant issue. Recently an elder care expert on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) radio morning show said that elder abuse is at a similar place as domestic violence was a number of years ago. People are just beginning to realized that theres a problem out there -- one that wont go away.
As we reach old age, we are not as able to defend ourselves against attack, because we are often frailer in our body and our mind. Uncaring or unscrupulous people use this perceived weakness to take advantage of elders, instead of protecting and caring for them, and honoring the incredible life history each one of them carries within them.
Abuse can take many forms including physical, emotional, sexual, neglect/abandonment, financial or healthcare fraud. We are all our sisters and brothers keepers. If we know an elderly person who we think is in trouble, its up to us as good neighbors and community members to speak to someone, perhaps a family member, doctor, or public health nurse. The two main indicators of possible abuse are:
