How to prevent the growing problem of elder abuse
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June 15 is designated as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Most of us are aware of child and domestic abuse, but did you know that elder abuse and exploitation is a growing problem?
The shocking truth is that in the majority of elder abuse and neglect cases, the perpetrator is a family member, most often an adult child or spouse.
According to the Administration for Community Living, an estimated 5 million older adults are abused, neglected or exploited.
One in five older Americans has been financially exploited, and the annual loss to these victims is $2.6 billion — funds that could be used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food and medical care.
Abuse takes many forms — physimarked cal, sexual and emotional abuse, passive neglect and self-neglect. Another type of abuse is financial exploitation — the misuse or withholding of an older adult’s resources.
In order to prevent elder abuse, we all need to be aware of red flags or warning signs that are sometimes physical (bruises, broken bones, abrasions, burns) or emotional (unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness or unusual depression, frequent arguments between the caregiver and older adult).
Signs of financial abuse may include unusual withdrawals or insufficient fund activity, concern or confusion about missing funds, forged or suspicious signatures on documents or new and unusual relationships. Then there’s neglect, sometimes trade- by bedsores, poor hygiene, unusual weight loss or unattended medical needs.
There are several efforts underway close to home to prevent elder abuse and improve support for victims.
Nashville is creating a Family Safety Center, similar to ones in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis, where victims of domestic violence and abuse can find a wide range of services and support under one roof. The new center is set to open in late 2018.
New state laws aim to safeguard senior adults, as well as other vulnerable adults, by imposing enhanced civil penalties for financial abuse, providing banks the ability to pause transactions they suspect are financial fraud, and providing civil and administrative immunity to broker-dealers, advisors and other qualified individuals for reporting suspected exploitation to the Tennessee Securities Division.
Grace Smith is executive director of the Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee.
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