As our society ages, so too does the prevalence of a disturbing trend: elder abuse. Physical, sexual, financial, mental, and emotional abuse leaves countless seniors vulnerable and traumatized.
The elderly, roughed up in nursing homes, hit by caregivers, stolen from by strangers, and neglected by family.
“I had one woman tell me that she was keeping her mother in the attic, and she didn’t see that as wrong,” explained Virginia Nga an Elder Justice Advocate at The Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect.
A study by the Administration on Aging reports that before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 10 elderly adults in the U.S. suffered abuse. Today that number has doubled to 1 in 5.
Ngai said she’s seeing an uptick in self-neglect, where family members may not know their loved ones are in desperate need of help or aren’t prepared to help.
“They may no longer be able to go and shop for themselves or cook for themselves, and they might not be able to fill their medication or take it,” said Ngai.
In 60% of cases, a family member is the abuser.
“When their parent is acting in behaviors that they’re not used to or they don’t feel as mature, then they may actually just lose it, lose their cool,” explained Ngai.
Strategies that can help include:
- Creating a caregiver support team that provides relief to those caregiving
- Taking advantage of money management programs available for those vulnerable to financial exploitation
- Using adult protective services that can help find a safer place for elderly abuse victims to stay
- Ensuring a caregiver is licensed, insured and has valid referrals
Elder abuse is an even more widespread issue for vulnerable seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Research shows nearly half of older adults with cognitive impairment suffer from abuse.
These conditions often impact memory, communication, and judgment, making it difficult for elders to recognize and report abuse when it happens.