Elder Neglect

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Elder neglect is the most common form of family violence and physical abuse of the elderly. An older person may be called an elder. There is no set age for an elder, but it may be defined as when a person retires at the age of 60 or 65 years old. In certain countries, it may be when a person physically cannot do his usual family or work roles anymore. Elder neglect occurs when someone fails to fulfill his obligation of taking care and meeting the needs of an elder. Family members or any person that is caring for an elder may unknowingly or on purpose neglect them.
  
  
• Elder neglect includes not giving food, clothing, shelter, medicine, or care that is needed for everyday living. This may also involve not bathing, dressing, or feeding the elder. Abandonment and medical abuse may also be considered elder neglect. Elder abandonment is when someone has withdrawn or given up support to an elder. This may include completely leaving the elder alone in an unsafe place. With medical abuse, needed treatments are not given or the wrong amount of medicine may be given.
  
  
• Signs and symptoms of elder neglect may include body pain, weakness, weight loss, and poor hygiene or wearing dirty clothes. You may have depression or worsening health conditions that were not treated. Dehydration (loss of too much body fluids and electrolytes) and pressure ulcers (bed sores) may also be present. Elder neglect may be found by a physical exam, blood or urine tests, x-rays, or computed tomography (CT) scan. Treatment for elders who are victims of neglect may include medicines to treat present diseases, and counseling. Surgery and wound care may be needed to treat any injuries. When elder neglect is reported and diagnosed, caregivers can help people who are at risk for, or are victims of elder neglect.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Activity and rest:

You may need to rest in bed and get plenty of sleep. Match your activity to the amount of energy you have. You may want to nap during the day. If you have trouble sleeping, tell your caregiver.

Counseling:

Your caregiver may talk to you, your family, friends, or those who should be held responsible for elder neglect. This may include what may happen if elder neglect is not stopped. You may need to leave your current living situation to escape your condition.

Injury or wound care:

If you have injuries or wounds, ask your caregiver for information about how to treat them.

Self-care:

• Be patient and keep your hopes up for improvement. Try to be patient and not too hard on yourself. Be the first one to encourage yourself and find ways to boost your self-esteem. Working together with people you can trust may help you get through the hard times.
  
  
• Be well informed about new laws that may help. Laws are in place to help those who are victims of elder neglect, abandonment, or medical abuse. Contact the police or other special agencies when elder neglect happens. Reporting elder neglect is the right thing to do. Caregivers may be required by law to report elder neglect.
  
  
• Learn more about elder neglect. The more you know about elder neglect, the better you will be able to help yourself. Ask your caregiver for good sources of information. Work with your caregiver and other people recovering from elder neglect, abandonment, or medical abuse to help yourself.

Skin care:

A special mattress called an egg crate or air mattress may be put on your bed. You will need to be turned often if you cannot move by yourself. Turning often will keep you from getting bed sores.

For support and more information:

Reporting elder neglect may be hard to do, but it is very important. By reporting elder neglect you will get the help that you need to stop it from continuing, or happening to you. Talk to your caregiver, family, or friends about your feelings. Your caregiver can help you and your family better understand how to support you. You and your family may also want to join a support group. This is a group of elders who may have also been neglected, abandoned, or medically abused. Contact the following for more information:

• American Academy of Family Physicians
  11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
  Leawood , KS 66211-2680
  Phone: 1- 913 - 906-6000
  Phone: 1- 800 - 274-2237
  Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
  

• National Center on Elder Abuse
  1201 15th Street, NW, Suite 350
  Washington , DC 20005
  Phone: 1- 202 - 898-2586
  Web Address: http://www.elderabusecenter.org
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You cannot get to the next meeting with your caregiver.
  
  
• You have new signs and symptoms since the last time you visited your caregiver.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You feel like hurting yourself or someone else.
  
  
• You feel that you cannot cope with your condition, or your recovery from it.
  
  
• You develop pressure sores.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing, chest pain, or a fast heartbeat.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Elder Neglect (Discharge Care)