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Elder Abuse

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Elder abuse is something that happens in every day society. In this paper you will find the history of elder abuse, the different types of abuse, case studies, statistical reports, and what can be done to improve the problem. Some may wonder why elder abuse even exists in a world that is supposed to love others. As people grow up they are taught to be kind and courteous to others, and to love one another. When elder abuse was first discovered in 1975 it was called the “granny battering” (Fulmer, 2005). Elder abuse was first researched in the 1980’s. According to Jeffels (2010), “granny battering” was named by A.A. Baker. This was when elder abuse was first recognized as a social problem. Some states in America began to deal with the …show more content…

Neglect is defined as the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elder. Neglect may also include failure of a person who has fiduciary responsibilities to provide care for an elder or the failure on the part of an in-home service provider to provide necessary care. Neglect typically means the refusal or failure to provide an elderly person with such life necessities as food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medicine, comfort, personal safety, and other essentials included in an implied or agreed-upon responsibility to an elder (AOA, nd). Abandonment is defined as the desertion of an elderly person by an individual who has taken on the responsibility for providing care for an elder, or by a person with physical custody of an elder(AOA, nd). Financial exploitation is defined as the illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets. Some examples may include, cashing an elderly persons checks without authorization or permission; forging an older persons signature; misusing or stealing an older persons money or possessions; coercing or deceiving an older person into signing any document; and the improper use of conservatorship, guardianship, or power of attorney(AOA, nd). Self neglect is characterized as the behavior of an elderly person that threatens his/her own health or safety. Self-neglect

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