Barbara, 85 years old, lost her husband last year. Because of her own diabetes and arthritis, she had to move in with her 56-year-old daughter, Janice, who has a daughter in college, a full-time job, and a husband who was recently laid off from his job. Janice caught herself yelling at her mother and accusing her of ruining her life. Recently, she lost her temper and slapped her mother. Janice has felt frightened, alone, trapped, and ashamed, and she does not know how to get help.
Every individual deserves to be treated with respect and caring, regardless of age. Old age, or the later years of life, should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment. Older adults today are more visible, active, and independent than ever before. They are living longer and are in better health than their predecessors. But for some older adults, it is a time of fear. Instead of enjoying themselves, some elders have a terrible secret, hidden from the outside world behind drawn curtains and closed doors. These elders are victims of elder abuse. It happens in all communities, among every race, socioeconomic group, culture, and religion. It happens in “nice” families and in those families that are not so nice.
THE PREVALENCE OF ABUSE
Many Americans were shocked when legendary 90-year-old actor Mickey Rooney testified before the Senate in 2010 about alleged abuse he’d suffered at the hands of a family member. He appeared well dressed and alert as he shared a horrific story about loss and betrayal. This testimony came right after socialite Brooke Astor’s story came out, detailing physical neglect and financial exploitation by her wealthy and well-respected son (Sheehan, 2011). Elder abuse is not restricted to those who are poor, uneducated, or without a home. The issue has gained national and international attention as advocates push to assure that the public is conscious of its far-reaching scope, of its increasing incidence and damaging effects.
Most older adults function in their communities and in their lives without suffering abuse. They receive loving and devoted care from their families. They are active, more visible, and more independent than generations before. While it is still the exception, elder abuse in the United States today is a greater problem than most people realize.
Age alone can place someone at risk for abuse. One reason for this is that, at a minimum, older people are stigmatized and socially excluded in most Western societies. Age and wisdom are not valued, while youth is celebrated. Elder abuse may be related to a disdain for aging, society’s rejection of the elderly, and an ingrained belief that older adults are a burden. This ageism robs older adults of power and makes them vulnerable to abuse. In the United States, for example, the legal system fails to protect elderly people against consumer fraud, and many health services and social programs for older adults lack adequate funding as compared to programs for children and youth (Walsh, Olson, Ploeg, Lohfeld, & MacMillan, 2011). As the aging population continues to grow disproportionately to the services and caregivers available, and since aging individuals often have physical, mental, and financial vulnerabilities, the risk for elder abuse also increases (Bernardo, 2014).