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

When the Victim Uses Alcohol or Other Drugs

Among older adults who abuse drugs or alcohol, researchers have observed:

• The likelihood of self-neglect
• The tendency to have poor relationships with family, making it difficult for the older person to obtain adequate care
• The vulnerability to financial exploitation and other abuses resulting from dependence on caregivers who may have easy access to an older person's resources
• The use of drugs or alcohol to cope with anxious or fearful situations or feelings
• The practice among abusive caregivers to encourage older people to abuse alcohol or other drugs, including illegal drugs, to make them more compliant or easier to care for or exploit financially, or to create barriers to reporting or detecting elder abuse

When the Perpetrator Uses Alcohol or Other Drugs

Perpetrators of elder abuse who abuse drugs or alcohol are likely to: ref

• Perceive that older family members, acquaintances, or strangers are easy targets for financial exploitation
• Move into an older person's home to use as a base of operation for drug use or trafficking
• Be violent while under the influence
• Use drugs as a coping mechanism, particularly among those who depend on the older adult financially or emotionally