4 Myths About Elder Abuse
As the United States’ aging population grows, so do reports of elder abuse and negligence.
Fortunately, public awareness of this problem is increasing, thanks in part to educational campaigns by organizations like the National Center on Elder Abuse and Adult Protective Services. But many misconceptions still exist — harmful misconceptions that prevent our society from being able to fully understand and address the complex issue.
Let’s dispel some of these myths right now.
Elder abuse is rare.
Unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly common each year, with the number of national reports made annually getting closer and closer to 5 million. This trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, as the population of people aged 65 and up increases. While the higher number of cases reported could be partially related to increased awareness and decreased fear of speaking up, the raw data increase has been drastic enough to make it clear that abuse is truly on the rise.
Only women or those with mental illness are at risk.
While it’s true that women, people aged 80 and older, and those with mental health issues are at an increased risk, elder abuse can happen to anyone. It can affect people of all socioeconomic groups and cultures, especially when a strong social support system is not present. Unfortunately, isolation is very common in the older population.
Most elder abuse occurs in nursing homes.
Many of us have an image in our head of financial scammers and nursing home caregivers taking advantage of our elderly loved ones. We think that strangers are the only ones who could be so cruel and heartless as to take advantage of a vulnerable person. However, this isn’t the case: more than 60 percent of elder abuse is done by someone the person knows (usually a family member). Some research suggests the number is as high as 90%. So, while nursing home abuse is common and disturbing, an enormous amount of abuse is taking place within the home and being carried out by parties the victims know and trust.
Each type of elder abuse is separate or isolated from other types.
Types of abuse range from financial to sexual to emotional. It would be a mistake to think that each type of abuse occurs in isolation from the other types, since they often show similar warning signs and co-occur with one another. Sadly, if one form of abuse is determined to be present, chances are that at least one other is as well.
How well do you understand elder abuse and neglect? Take this online quiz to test your personal knowledge. As each of us learns more about this problem, we can be better equipped to personally look out for our loved ones who may be vulnerable, and spread awareness in our circles of influence.
