What is Elder Abuse?

What should be the church response? How can we spread the message of Hope to this population?

Elder abuse is any form of mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an elder person. The tactics of power and control in cases of elder abuse are similar to other abusive relationships, and include physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse. Elder abuse can be committed by caregivers, intimate partners, and family members. It’s estimated that about 4-6% of the elderly population experience abuse.

What Does Elder Abuse Look Like?

There are several components to elder abuse that make it unique. For one, while financial abuse is a common tactic in many abusive relationships, elders are specifically targeted for financial abuse because of the wealth and assets they have accrued over their lifetime. Abusers in a position of power over the elder can forge their signatures, steal money or property, trick an elder into signing a deed or will that benefits the abuser, or threaten to withhold necessary care in order to make an elder comply with financial demands. Abusers might also gain power of attorney, where the elder (or elder’s family members) grants them the ability to legally act on their behalf. Power of attorney abuse is often not discovered until after the elder’s death.

Another issue that makes elder abuse unique is that many elders live in long-term care facilities or nursing homes. About 85% of those who live in long-term care facilities are over the age of 65. This is significant because the prevalence of abuse in nursing homes is stunning. Between 1999 and 2001, nearly 1 in 3 nursing homes were cited for violations of federal standards that had the potential to cause harm or that had caused actual harm to a resident. In a 2009-2010 study, over 50% of nursing home staff admitted to mistreating older patients. And in a study of 2,000 interviews of nursing home residents, 44% said they had been abused and 95% said they had been neglected or had seen another patient be neglected. While there are obviously many wonderful nursing homes and long-term care facilities, the prevalence of neglect and abuse in these institutions is a huge concern when discussing elder abuse.

One of the barriers elders face to escaping abusive situations is the stereotypes of elderly people.

Similarly to how an abuser might use ableist language to deny that the abuse is happening, abusers of elders can call on stereotypes of “an aging mind” to brush off allegations of abuse: in other words, the victim can’t be trusted because their age makes them unreliable.

Did You Know?

In a study of 2,000 interviews of nursing home residents, 44% said they had been abused.

95% said they had been neglected or had seen another patient be neglected.

What should be the church response? How can we share the message of Hope even in difficult situations and at such a time like this, during a pandemic?

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