Many researchers believe that elder abuse is often underreported in emergency room visits. The necessary implication of this is that cases of actual elder abuse are going unacknowledged, and they keep occurring as a result of this.
Reporting elder abuse when it is not there, or “crying wolf,” is a very serious concern within those that work in emergency departments. No one wants to be the person that makes a false accusation, and no one ever should make an accusation like this. But current data indicates that only about 1 in 7,700 emergency room visits by senior citizens is determined to have some sort of elder abuse occurring, and this number–according to experts–is far too low. Some experts in this field believe that elder abuse impacts as many as 1 in 10 seniors. If the previously listed observations are accurate, there is a lot of room for improvement here, and it has the potential to save lives and prevent both physical and emotional trauma to others. The emergency room has always been used as one of the primary places places where elder abuse is identified, but if these conclusions are true, much of its potential for help in this area is lost.
It’s very sad and concerning that elder abuse occurs. Oftentimes it happens and the person that is responsible for it doesn’t even know that they are doing something wrong. Abuse can be something like the accidental or occasional case of neglect, or it can be malicious financial fraud. It can take the shape of intimidation or threats, or it can take the form of actual physical abuse. All of these things are forms of abuse and all are completely avoidable when you have a trusted and professional in-home care service on your side.
If you have concerns about the wellbeing of an elderly loved one, please get in touch with a caregiving service today. Make sure that the caregivers that they employ are fully trained, but also ensure that they have had background checks so that any history of issues can be eliminated before you bring someone into your home. A new caregiver might be a stranger to your family at first, but they are someone that you will need to put a lot of trust in.
Elder abuse is a very serious problem, and it is one that you and I can always be on the lookout for. If you have an elderly loved one receiving senior care, or if they are under the supervision of a family member, it’s important that you know the signs of senior abuse and know what to do about it. Speak with your loved ones and let them know about it, too. If they are less afraid to speak up to someone that they trust, there is less of a chance that it will ever happen to someone that you love. It’s important that you be that person that they are comfortable speaking to! This might not be something that can put an end to all elder abuse cases, but it’s something small that we can do to help reduce the number of cases that occur.
Leave a Reply