Consequences Of Elder Abuse

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INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE REVIEW
An evaluation of the general population studies found the prevalence of elder abuse went from between 3.2% and 27.5% (Cooper, Selwood et al. 2008). This evaluation included studies that showed more than 6% of the older population reported abusive behaviour in the previous month; as well as significant numbers of older people reporting psychological abuse (above 25%) and neglect (20%) from their careers. Rates of different types of abuse vary: a recent WHO report estimated prevalence of elder abuse in high- or middle-income countries as ranging from 2% to 14% overall, including financial abuse (1–9%), psychological abuse (1–6%), physical abuse (0–5%), sexual abuse (0–1%), and neglect (0–6%)(World Health Organization
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Consequences of elder abuse include depression, anxiety, fear, feelings of unworthiness and other psychological stress (Dong, Chang et al. 2013), substance addiction (Kaye, Kay et al. 2007; Rosen 2014) and suicide (Kaye, Kay et al. 2007). In the US the annual direct healthcare costs associated with injuries due to elder abuse have been estimated to be USD 5.3 billion. In Australia, annual hospital admission costs due to elder abuse were estimated to be between AUD 9.9–30.7 million dollars in the 2007/2008 financial year (Choo, Hairi et al. 2013). These figures only relate to health costs and do not take into consideration other costs allowed by the individual victim and the community. Elder abuse in long-term facilities, such as nursing homes, has been conceptualized as a social problem (Payne & Burke-Fletcher, 2005). For the most part, it is hidden within the walls of such institutions, and its extent is hard to estimate. The few existing reports demonstrate its wide prevalence (Hawes, 2002). A study on nursing homes in Germany found that 79% of nursing home staff indicated having abused or neglected a resident at least once in the previous year, whereas 66% witnessed victimizations of residents by …show more content…
An expanded typology is needed to classify certain types of abuse reported commonly such as marginalization, disrespect, exploitation and violence. The history of elder abuse and responses are traced, relevant legislation and selected intervention programs are reviewed, and research and the status of elder abuse are evaluated. Intervention to address socio-structural factors that impact elders’ settings, increase their vulnerability, and diminish their ability to realize human rights can contribute to an improvement in their condition and a reduction in abuse and rights violations in the long term (Monica Ferreira, DPhil Pat Lindgren, 2014). Research on elder abuse in South Africa has been extremely scarce, although evidence that is available gives some understanding of the context and causation of types of abuse. A review of research literature on aging in the 1980s and 1990s (see Ferreira, Esterhuysen, Rip & Setiloane, 1991) showed that while earlier studies focused largely on areas of life and care in residential care facilities, none referred to elder abuse or neglect. For example, Conradie (1999) considered challenges of caring for residents in homes for the aged that were racially segregated previously but are now integrated, and a need for residents to understand and tolerate the ethno-cultural practises of