When you make the choice to place your family members in the care of total strangers, you assume they'll be treated with dignity. But that isn't always the case. According to the National Center for Elder Abuse (NCEA), hundereds of thousands of cases of elder abuse are reported in the United States each year, and those are only the reported incidents. It unclear how many other victims do not tell their families about the pain they endure because of fear, shame or guilt.
The Ugly Side of Caregiving:Though there are three general categories of elder abuse--domestic elder abuse institutional elder abuse, and self-neglect or self-abuse--institutional abuse is the one farthest from your control.
Institutional abuse is abuse that occurs in residential facilities for older persons (e.g., nursing homes, foster homes, group homes, board and care facilities), according to the NCEA. The abusers are usually persons with a legal or contractual obligation to provide elder victims with care and protection (e.g., paid caregivers, staff, and professionals).
Types of institutional abuse and their symptoms include:
Physical abuse - bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns
Sexual abuse - bruises around the breasts or genital area
Emotional or psychological abuse - Withdrawal from normal activities and mild depression or odd behavioral changes; threatening or violent interaction with others
Neglect - bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and drastic weight loss
Financial or material exploitation - sudden fluctuations in money accounts or other material assets
Self-neglect
Abandonment
If you've recently become aware of a family member or family friend being abused, you don't have to fight these institutions alone. After you've established the problem, don't go sifting through the legalities of getting even by yourself. There is help available by contacting Steven Peck's Premier Legal toll free at 1.866.999.9085 or visit us on-line at www.premierlegal.org.
