Senior Citizen Mistreatment

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides a “Fact Sheet” on understanding elder maltreatment at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/em-factsheet-a.pdf .  The CDC Fact Sheet states that elder maltreatment includes several types of violence that occur among those ages 60 and older.  According to the CDC, the violence usually occurs at the hands of a caregiver or a person the elder trusts.  In this regard, the CDC says there are six types of elder maltreatment: (1) physical; (2) sexual; (3) emotional; (4) neglect; (5) abandonment; and, (6) financial.  Elder maltreatment is a serious problem in the United States, and many cases are not reported because elders are afraid to tell police, friends, or family about the violence.  In this regard, the CDC recommends taking the following steps: (1) listen to elders and their caregivers; (2) intervene when you suspect elder abuse; and, among other things, (3) educating others about how to identify and report elder abuse.  In addition, the CDC offers websites one can visit to learn more about elder abuse, including the National Center on Elder Abuse at www.ncea.aoa.gov and the National Institute on Aging at www.nia.nih.gov .  Further, the CDC lists in its Fact Sheet some of the risk factors for hurting an elder: (1) drug and alcohol use, especially heavey drinking; (2) high levels of stress; (3) lack of social support; (4) high emotional or financial dependence on the elder; (5) lack of training in taking care of elders; and, (6) depression.  People who suspect senior citizen mistreatment is occurring can also contact elder abuse hotlines or helplines, as well as local law enforcement authorities.