Elder Abuse

INTRODUCTION

Elder abuse has different causal factors irrespective of the source of abuse.  Elder abuse can occur either in institutions or at home. There are different factors that can contribute towards elder abuse. Financial matters, reluctant to give care, irritation due to monotonous job, stress can give rise to elder abuse. The risk factors that are involved in the elder abuse cases are isolation and loneliness of the subject, physical disabilities and sociological factors like dependence. The persons usually involved in domestic violence are –children’s, grandchildren, daughters, spouses, sons and son in law etc. The current case study will take into account the case of Greta to analyse what sociological factors and psychological factor led to elder abuse.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

In the present case Greta was abused by his grandson Dylan who is financially abusing Dylan. Greta is a widowed woman and lives alone. Although her daughter lives in the same town, she often visits her. But due to detoriating health of Greta she feels guilty that she is putting more pressure on Greta. She wants Anne (her daughter) and John must not come and she is worried about their relationships. She is worried about the erratic behaviour of his son-in –law and Dylan. Therefore, she wants to live alone. But her daughter doesn’t allow since she has multiple health problems.

The first factor that contributes towards her financial abuse is she is living alone and her mobility and functionality has reduced over the time. Similarly, after she fell down in her house her situation constantly detoriated that demanded acute high level of care. Research say’s when elders are psychologically weak due social and emotional isolation, the chances of getting abuse is high. In the present case after her husband died she was living alone in a two storey building. She recently returned from rehabilitation unit and her daughter also shifted to become a full time carer for Greta. But Greta was much worried about the psychosocial and psychological disturbances occurring at her daughter’s family. This can be categorized under mesosystem as described by Bronfrenbrenner in his bio-ecological model. According to this system, the different interactions in between people who are close to Greta affect Greta either directly and indirectly. In the current case, Greta was living alone having no body to take care of her or the financial possession she had. Similarly, Dylan was very much aware of the fact Greta will not allow Anne to live their permanently as her relationship with her husband will be affected. Thirdly, Greta’s fall led to her cessation of mobility therefore, it is easy to abuse her financially. Similarly exosystem also affect Greta (Rosa and Tudge, 2013).

Similarly the exosystem also affects Greta’s life although not directly. Her daughter’s family life was not well and Greta feels sorry about this. She feels she is putting extra pressure. She was not happy about her stroke and she feels she might get another stroke. She wants to see her grandchildren and this reminds her husband. Therefore, a number of psychological factors play a role in making her weak psychologically and giving opportunity to Dylan to financially abuse her. This can be considered as mesosystem for Greta (Johannessen  and LoGiudice, 2013).

Macrosystem is the process through which external environment affect the life of individuals. Although, this constitutes the outer environment of an individual i.e. social norms and values it has an effect on patient life. In the present study she was suffering from mental breakdown and seems to be in distress. She remembers her husband; she doesn’t want to give extra pressure to her daughter. Similarly she doesn’t want to see her son in law face as he is alcoholic and abuse her. She is not comfortable with Dylan as he financially abuses her. Therefore, these many factors contribute towards her financial abuse.

Socially the factors are similar to the above mentioned examples. For example- societal norms doesn’t allow daughters to stay at their mothers house after marriage. And secondly family issues in her daughter’s family made her think so that she is reason behind such issues. To add more worries to the situation she fell down in her house and later she had a stroke with CVA while working in her garden. All these factors together contribute towards her social isolation. Research shows when elder people usually stay in isolation, the chances of abuse is more. Another factor that gave chance for financial abuse is her inability to carry out her own functions. She is having multiple disabilities as a result she can’t help herself in carrying out her daily activities. Research shows when clients are dependent on others the chances of abuse is high (Waugh and Guhn, 2014).

Apart from the above mentioned factors stress could be a reason behind her abuse. Her failing health issues are increasing day by day. Caring for any such patient for a longer period of time is very stressful. Similarly, the case study doesn’t reveal the current financial status of Greta and her daughter. Therefore, financial issues and difficulties are obvious. This might have led to financial abuse in case of Greta. Since Anne is giving more time towards her mother, therefore the chances are there she is unable to take care of Dylan.  Poor parenting can lead to poor child development and trouble behaviours in future. Therefore, in this case Dylan financial abuse can be considered as trouble behaviour.

A number of strategies can be followed to reduce the abuse and improve her condition. The best option that can be recommended for Greta is to take help of residential care services available for elders. Currently a number of programs have been launched that address the needs and requirements of elder people. Programs such as meals on wheels can help Greta to get proper nutrition. Similarly, services are there for laundry services, for maintenance of hygiene and other day to day activities. The advantage is that she will be freed from any type of abuse (Bennet and Kinston, 2013).

The issue of elder abuse has high incidence but the problem reporting is very low. A number of researches have been done to find out risk factors behind elder abuse, but the persistence of the problem indicates certain aspects of the issue are not addressed. One of the major issues is lack of evidences that suggests the interventions are not evidenced based. The family matters and family behavioral trends is very complex, therefore finding a single solution to the issue is very difficult. Confidentiality, societal respect and fear of shame also lead to poor evidential reporting. Reasons such as lack of knowledge with regard to elder abuse and what has to be done in such cases also leads to problem. Similarly dependency is factor that cannot be excluded in case of elders having disability. And continuous exposure to such stress of caring can lead to abuse of elders. Family conflict also contributes towards elderly abuse. The case study can provide better strategies to deal with financial abuse of Greta if more information can be provided on client’s family relationships and dynamics of relationships. Therefore interventions to be designed must address sociological as well as psychological aspect of the client (Jackson and Hafemeister, 2013).

CONCLUSION

The current study provides a clear context of elderly abuse and how it can lead to further mental and emotional stress. Greta can avail different types of services facilitated for elder people. At the same time, the family members can increase their understanding of the elder needs and requirements.

REFERENCES

Bennett, G., & Kingston, P. W. (2013). Elder abuse: Concepts, theories and interventions. Springer.

Jackson, S. L., & Hafemeister, T. L. (2013). Financial abuse of elderly people vs. other forms of elder abuse: Assessing their dynamics, risk factors, and society's response. National Institute of Justice Final Report (2011).

Johannesen, M., & LoGiudice, D. (2013). Elder abuse: a systematic review of risk factors in community-dwelling elders. Age and Ageing, afs195.

Rosa, E. M., & Tudge, J. (2013). Urie Bronfenbrenner's theory of human development: Its evolution from ecology to bioecology. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 5(4), 243-258.

Waugh, M., & Guhn, M. (2014). Bioecological Theory of Human Development. In Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research(pp. 398-401). Springer Netherlands.