Elder abuse is one of those topics that no one really feels comfortable talking about, but it is so important to be aware of because the repercussions of this happening can be awful. When someone you love is not getting proper care, you should be long term ramifications of abuse are even worse. As the person who is in charge of your loved one’s care, it is your job to be aware of elder abuse issues and know what to do to prevent it and stop it where you can. Here are some things that you need to know and take into account.
First, realize that while elder abuse might be very clear to some, oftentimes those who commit it are actually well intentioned. This is one of the reasons why it can be so hard to spot, and one of the reasons why you need to be so diligent about it yourself. You might think that you are doing what’s best, but you are actually causing more harm than good. While you are in the other room getting a meal ready, your loved one might be in a potentially dangerous situation, for example.
Knowledge is your friend here, and it will give you a greater awareness for what’s going on with your family. It will help you to spot the signs of both physical and mental abuse, and give you resources to end them. Be in touch with your county’s senior services center, or whatever branch of Social Services in your area specializes in providing help to senior citizens in need. This can also help your loved one to get any other help you might not have thought of at first, such as meal assistance, heating supplements in the winter, or access to Medicaid programs.
Hiring a professional caregiver to step in once in a while and help out is a good way to avoid the potential for elder abuse, especially if you go with a reputable service that has a rigorous background check system for their caregivers. You can use a professional as a once in a while respite caregiver, or as a full time, every day caregiver. Whatever your needs are, you can adjust the amount of care given to meet them. This will cut down drastically on the instances where abuse is intentional, by instantly eliminating those with a past criminal record from the mix. It will also help cut down on accidental elder abuse because caregivers will have professional training, and be better geared toward seeing this and ending it before it begins. The best caregivers will also be able to see any minor flaws in your own care and help you to build up to a point where you can provide the very best level of care for your family member, too.
Primarily, you should be focusing on keeping your loved one as happy and healthy as possible. It’s a tough task, but by eliminating the possibility of elder abuse, your job gets a lot easier over the long run.
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