Table of Contents

About This Course

1. Introduction to Elder Abuse
2. The Basics of Elder Abuse
3. Substance Use and Other Risk Factors
4. Screening and Assessment
5. Intervention and Treatment
6. Preventing Elder Abuse

Supplements
Case Studies
References
Resources

Out of the Shadows
Uncovering Substance Use and Elder Abuse

Age-Related Vulnerabilities

The living situations of many older adults can make them vulnerable to abuse and create barriers for intervention. An abusive family member may be one of the few people who come into contact with an older victim, creating fewer opportunities for outsiders to witness the abuse and intervene. Older adults living in an institutional setting may have severe mental and physical infirmities or be isolated or estranged from family members. This can make it difficult to detect physical or emotional abuse, medication misuse, or neglect.

Medical knowledge regarding elder abuse and neglect is years behind that of child abuse and domestic violence. Many health practitioners can have difficulty distinguishing between changes related to aging and signs of abuse or neglect. Are the bruises on an older patient the result of an accident or an act of abuse? Practitioners need training in identifying suspicious-looking bruises and other signs.

Older people are subject to psychological and physical challenges inherent in aging as well as "ageist" attitudes that discount the value or ability of older adults to contribute to society.

In addition to barriers to treatment and intervention for elder abuse, barriers exist to prosecution of abusers. The death of an older person, despite signs of abuse, may not be as closely scrutinized as the death of a younger person, particularly if medical or psychological conditions related to aging are observed. ref

The presence of all these age-related conditions and factors increases an older person's risk of elder abuse or neglect.