Understanding the Risk Factors for Elder Abuse

Providing the assistance that helps seniors stay happy, healthy, and independent is the aim of not only our professional Medford, OR senior care team, but of every family caregiver who has ever assisted a loved one. Considering the quality of life of elders is so important, and it’s crucial that we take a look at something that can be tough for many of us to even imagine – elder abuse.

The CDC reports that roughly 500,000 senior citizens are neglected or abused each year in the U.S. However, many more elder abuse instances are likely to go unreported each year, which is why it’s critical for family members to be familiar with potential abuse risks.

The following are some of the risk factors associated with elder abuse:

• Dependence on others: Seniors who depend on others for care are frequently disinclined to speak up about any abuse because they may feel unsafe or that their care needs won’t be able to be met by someone else if the abuser is reported.
• Diminished physical health and mobility: Dementia, Alzheimer’s or other health conditions may raise an older adult's chance of being abused since he or she may be incapable of describing or verbalizing the abuse.
• History of abuse: If the senior was abusive as a parent, there is an increased risk for elder abuse, particularly if an adult child who was abused by the senior is the main care provider.
• Social isolation: Social isolation frequently occurs when a senior loses his or her spouse or lives far apart from family and friends, and it can create the perfect setting for elder abuse. Abusers quite often try to keep older individuals isolated by:
  • Refusing to sign up for economic aid or services
  • Resisting outside support
  • Switching social and healthcare professionals frequently to make it difficult to evaluate the older person's health status
  • Limiting contact with the older adult
• Family caregiver burnout or stress: Stressed caregivers can become depressed, causing them to lash out at the older individuals in their care.

If a loved one is being cared for by a family member or other caregiver, be mindful of these risk factors, call and visit as often as possible to assess the senior’s health, and play an active role in the senior's care.

At All Care, we realize how important a senior loved one’s safety and wellbeing are, and we take the appropriate measures to ensure we provide the best care. Each member of our senior care team has passed an in-depth background check, reference checks, and a personal interview to confirm that they meet our high care criteria. Contact us today at 541-857-9195 to learn more about our home care services in Medford, OR and the surrounding area.