Question

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Issues to depression. 2. Child and elderly abuse is a topic of great concern in healthcare. Discuss how to assess for abuse or neglect in your patients.

Answer 1

Ans) Elder abuse:

- Due to mandatory reporting laws and other major differences in DHS, law enforcement and other institutions' responses, cases in which an elderly person is the primary victim of abuse may be beyond the scope of our work.

- Elder Abuse affects people of every social, economic, and religious background impacting both men and women.

- It is similar to other forms of domestic violence and may include physical violence, sexual assault, emotional, and psychological.

- Elder survivors also face fear of abandonment, financial exploitation, and neglect.

- The movement to research and better understand elder abuse is still relatively new. And while there has been some progress in understanding, there is still much to learn, specifically in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault.

• Unique barriers faced by elderly survivors

- Social isolation, mental impairment, and physical limitations may make an elder survivor more vulnerable to abuse and less able to seek safety.

- Survivors may be totally or partially dependent on the abuser for daily care needs, including meals, daily hygiene care, mobility, and access to medication.

- Survivors may depend on abuser for basic survival needs such as shelter, access to funds, and food.

- Survivors of elder abuse may experience shame, fear, embarrassment, anxiety, confusion, and guilt.

- Due to grief and life losses, elder survivors may experience increased depression and withdrawal.

• Types of elder abuse:

Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to:

• Physical force that results in injury, impairment, or pain.
• Shaking, hitting, slapping, pulling hair, or pushing.
• Spitting, burning, force-feeding, or kicking.
• Physical punishment, restraining, refusing physical assistance, and refusing food.
• Inappropriate use of drugs and physical restraints.
• Rough handling during care giving.
• Emotional & psychological abuse includes, but is not limited to:
• Verbal or nonverbal act that inflicts emotional pain or distress.
• Ignoring and isolating the survivor.
• Name-calling, ridiculing, scapegoating or blaming.
• Threatening to punish or deprive, intimidating.
• Yelling and screaming.
• Isolating from family, friends, or regular activities.
• Inappropriate joking and teasing.
• Stealing or withholding valuables.
• Withholding needed assistance.
• Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to:
• Sexual contact with an elder without that person's consent.
• Coerced nudity.
• Fondling, touching, or kissing.
• Forcing elder to witness sexual acts.
• Spying on the elder in the bathroom or bedroom.
• Touching with out notification or consent.
• Sexual assault of any type.
• Showing pornographic material.
• Coercion to perform sexual acts.
• Photographing the elder in sexually explicit ways.

Steps you can take to prevent abuse of the elderly includes the following:

• Avoid isolating elders. This can cause depression, sadness and loneliness that will increase the chances of neglect or abuse.
• Stay in touch with your elders. Family members can help care for the elderly person and be on the lookout for changes that may suggest abuse.
• Keep elders active. By staying active in old age, this can prolong an elder’s life and decrease the chances that they will be vulnerable to elder abuse.
• Encourage elders to attend religious services and community activities. This can help them stay in touch with things that have been important to them throughout their life.
• Don’t allow elders to live with someone who is known to be abusive or violent. Once a person has a history of violence, they are likely to repeat that behavior again, especially when someone is vulnerable.
• Be wary of caregivers or friends needing financial help, or those who have issues with illicit drugs. These are people who may manipulate an elder and steal or mismanage finances.
• Elders should be aware of their own financial affairs. Elders may require the help of a trusted relative or friend to manage their money, but ultimately they should be the sole one in control of finances.
• Don’t allow a caretaker or family member to impulsively alter an elder’s will, or add their names to financial accounts or land titles. These are people who put an elder at risk for financial exploitation.
• Inform elders to be wary of solicitations from the telephone, internet or mail.These are likely to be scams designed to steal an elderly person’s money.

Child abuse:

- Our resources and those of most of our member programs are designed with adult and adolescent survivors in mind (though some may offer services for children who have witnessed domestic violence).

- Due to mandatory reporting laws and other major differences in DHS, law enforcement and other institutions' responses, cases in which the primary victim is a child may be beyond the scope of our work.

Ten Ways to Help Prevent Child Abuse

1. Be a nurturing parent.
   Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams.
2. Help a friend, neighbor or relative.
   Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand take care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or spend time together.
3. Help yourself.
   When the big and little problems of your everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control – take time out. Don’t take it out on your kid.
4. If your baby cries…
   It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry. Learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby – shaking a child may result in severe injury or death.
5. Get involved.
   Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families.
6. Help to develop parenting resources at your local library.
   Find out whether your local library has parenting resources, and if it does not, offer to help obtain some.
7. Promote programs in school.
   Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.
8. Monitor your child’s television, video, and internet viewing/usage.
   Excessively watching violent films, TV programs, and videos can harm young children.
9. Volunteer at a local child abuse prevention program.
   For information about volunteer opportunities, call 1.800.CHILDREN or contact your local Prevent Child Abuse America chapter.
10. Report suspected abuse or neglect.
    If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call your local department of children and family services or your local police department. Emergency contacts can be found at the top of the page.