Elder abuse.
Tina and Mark work full time. They have 2 small children, a dog, a cat, and hardly have enough time to spend together as a family. Life is very busy for them. A few years ago, Tina's mom passed away leaving her dad alone. Tina repeatedly invited him to stay with her and her family, but her father claimed he could manage on his own. With busy lives, she found it difficult to check on her father only but once a week.
Two years had passed and Tina would make a point of visiting her dad every Sunday, cooking for him, straightening up his 3-bedroom house, making sure he had clean clothes to wear, and food in the fridge. However, this one particular Sunday, she thought she'd skip since he always seemed to be doing well. She called him weekly. Her visits slowed down to monthly.
On her next visit, she noticed his clothes were dirty and he seemed to have an unclean smell about him. She washed his clothes and escorted him to the bathroom where she convinced her father it would be best if he showered. Shutting the bathroom door, she continued back down the hall toward the kitchen to cook and prepare meals for the freezer.
Her father came out dressed but didn't seem any cleaner. Her father was a proud man; never liked to ask for help. She realized her father had in fact not taken a shower. She proceeded to question her dad about today's reason for not showering and asked if he had been showering regularly. She soon learned he had not been. Tina decided it was time to hire an aide to care for her dad. Her father, after much persuasion agreed. A few days later, a care aide came to Tina's dad's home to look after her father's hygiene. The aide was able to get him into the shower, but he was extremely reluctant. Why? The aide learned he was petrified of falling. You see, there were no handrails installed in his shower and he became very scared. He was off balance which caused his apprehension. If he fell in the shower he wouldn't be able to get back up. Who would discover him? His body odor was awful. He hadn't showered in at least a month. The aide assisted in bathing her dad at the same time, helping him gain some confidence in his abilities.
The aide was set to visit weekly to check his vitals, bathe him, make sure the house was clean and that his clothes were clean as well. But sometimes she was unable to visit him and she would need to send someone else in her place. This aide was a bully. She didn't have the patience for the older generation. She'd 'walk' him to the bathroom but as if it were a race, mumbling something under her breath the whole way, and wash his face with a previously used damp washcloth. No shower. She'd occasionally change his shirt but never his pants or undergarments. This went on for 2 months.
Tina, being a busy woman and trusting the nursing agency with her father's care, didn't come to check on her father as often as she would have liked. She made the weekly call. Whenever she asked about the care he was receiving, he was evasive. Finally, she took a Sunday and drove out to see her dad. She had the front door key. She knocked but didn't want her father to bother himself so she simply called out to him loudly once at the door, and let herself in.
What she discovered was beyond words. Her father seemed to have been sitting in urine-soaked pants and stained shirt for who-knows how long. She immediately picked up the phone and contacted the agency. This is a type of elder abuse. It is neglect and emotional abuse.
Let's turn to the three sociological theories and view the above scenario through different eyes if you will.
Conflict theory views society as a constant struggle and competition. The above example demonstrates individuals in power (medical professionals) compete against the ones who are in need (Tina's dad) and this becomes a conflict. If we look at how much of our elderly population rely on caregivers for their daily needs, it can seem like a struggle and a challenge. Many elderly are at the mercy of those individuals taking care of them. If we look at this issue using conflict theory, it shows the caregiver holding the power and the elderly the powerless. This describes an imbalance of power this causing conflict.
Functionalists view a society on how it works together and what it needs to keep it running smoothly. While one could say society would have a great deal of difficulty without the medical industry, it could also say a functionalist would find the resources in order for society to continue functioning. As in Tina's father's situation, Tina wasn't able to look after her dad herself but managed to find another source. Was it the best solution? According to a functionalist, she kept society running by finding an alternative to her father's situation.
'In a study of 4,156 older adults, family members were the most common perpetrators of financial exploitation of older adults (FEOA) (57.9%), followed by friends and neighbors (16.9%), followed by home care aides (14.9%)'.
Violence Prevention. (2018, May 17). Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/elderabuse/definitions.html
What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://ncea.acl.gov/whatwedo/research/statistics.html
Tina and Mark work full time. They have 2 small children, a dog, a cat, and hardly have enough time to spend together as a family. Life is very busy for them. A few years ago, Tina's mom passed away leaving her dad alone. Tina repeatedly invited him to stay with her and her family, but her father claimed he could manage on his own. With busy lives, she found it difficult to check on her father only but once a week.
Two years had passed and Tina would make a point of visiting her dad every Sunday, cooking for him, straightening up his 3-bedroom house, making sure he had clean clothes to wear, and food in the fridge. However, this one particular Sunday, she thought she'd skip since he always seemed to be doing well. She called him weekly. Her visits slowed down to monthly.
On her next visit, she noticed his clothes were dirty and he seemed to have an unclean smell about him. She washed his clothes and escorted him to the bathroom where she convinced her father it would be best if he showered. Shutting the bathroom door, she continued back down the hall toward the kitchen to cook and prepare meals for the freezer.
Her father came out dressed but didn't seem any cleaner. Her father was a proud man; never liked to ask for help. She realized her father had in fact not taken a shower. She proceeded to question her dad about today's reason for not showering and asked if he had been showering regularly. She soon learned he had not been. Tina decided it was time to hire an aide to care for her dad. Her father, after much persuasion agreed. A few days later, a care aide came to Tina's dad's home to look after her father's hygiene. The aide was able to get him into the shower, but he was extremely reluctant. Why? The aide learned he was petrified of falling. You see, there were no handrails installed in his shower and he became very scared. He was off balance which caused his apprehension. If he fell in the shower he wouldn't be able to get back up. Who would discover him? His body odor was awful. He hadn't showered in at least a month. The aide assisted in bathing her dad at the same time, helping him gain some confidence in his abilities.
The aide was set to visit weekly to check his vitals, bathe him, make sure the house was clean and that his clothes were clean as well. But sometimes she was unable to visit him and she would need to send someone else in her place. This aide was a bully. She didn't have the patience for the older generation. She'd 'walk' him to the bathroom but as if it were a race, mumbling something under her breath the whole way, and wash his face with a previously used damp washcloth. No shower. She'd occasionally change his shirt but never his pants or undergarments. This went on for 2 months.
Tina, being a busy woman and trusting the nursing agency with her father's care, didn't come to check on her father as often as she would have liked. She made the weekly call. Whenever she asked about the care he was receiving, he was evasive. Finally, she took a Sunday and drove out to see her dad. She had the front door key. She knocked but didn't want her father to bother himself so she simply called out to him loudly once at the door, and let herself in.
What she discovered was beyond words. Her father seemed to have been sitting in urine-soaked pants and stained shirt for who-knows how long. She immediately picked up the phone and contacted the agency. This is a type of elder abuse. It is neglect and emotional abuse.
Let's turn to the three sociological theories and view the above scenario through different eyes if you will.
Conflict theory views society as a constant struggle and competition. The above example demonstrates individuals in power (medical professionals) compete against the ones who are in need (Tina's dad) and this becomes a conflict. If we look at how much of our elderly population rely on caregivers for their daily needs, it can seem like a struggle and a challenge. Many elderly are at the mercy of those individuals taking care of them. If we look at this issue using conflict theory, it shows the caregiver holding the power and the elderly the powerless. This describes an imbalance of power this causing conflict.
Functionalists view a society on how it works together and what it needs to keep it running smoothly. While one could say society would have a great deal of difficulty without the medical industry, it could also say a functionalist would find the resources in order for society to continue functioning. As in Tina's father's situation, Tina wasn't able to look after her dad herself but managed to find another source. Was it the best solution? According to a functionalist, she kept society running by finding an alternative to her father's situation.
Lastly, symbolic interactionists stress that 'the changes associated with old age, in and of themselves, have no inherent meaning. Nothing in the nature of aging creates any particular, defined set of attitudes. Rather, attitudes toward the elderly are rooted in society '(Pelz, n.d.).
If that is the case, then how the aide behaved toward Tina's father in the example above may explain how society sees the elderly: bothersome, in the way.
Let's define 'Elder Abuse'.
Elder abuse is defined as 'an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to an adult over the age of 60'(2018).
Now, let's shed light on the various types of abuse.
Physical abuse- which is defined as 'violent acts such as striking (with or without an object or weapon), hitting, beating, scratching, biting, choking, suffocation, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, stomping, pinching, and burning'.
Now, let's shed light on the various types of abuse.
Physical abuse- which is defined as 'violent acts such as striking (with or without an object or weapon), hitting, beating, scratching, biting, choking, suffocation, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, stomping, pinching, and burning'.
Sexual Abuse or Abusive Sexual Contact: forced or unwanted sexual interaction (touching and non-touching acts) of any kind with an older adult.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse: verbal or nonverbal behavior that results in the infliction of anguish, mental pain, fear, or distress. Examples include behaviors intended to humiliate (e.g., calling names or insults), threaten (e.g., expressing an intent to initiate nursing home placement), isolate (e.g., seclusion from family or friends), or control.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse: verbal or nonverbal behavior that results in the infliction of anguish, mental pain, fear, or distress. Examples include behaviors intended to humiliate (e.g., calling names or insults), threaten (e.g., expressing an intent to initiate nursing home placement), isolate (e.g., seclusion from family or friends), or control.
Financial Abuse or Exploitation: the illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of an older individual’s resources by a caregiver or other person in a trusting relationship, for the benefit of someone other than the older individual. This includes depriving an older person of rightful access to, information about, or use of, personal benefits, resources, belongings, or assets.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse: verbal or nonverbal behavior that results in the infliction of anguish, mental pain, fear, or distress. Examples include behaviors intended to humiliate (e.g., calling names or insults), threaten (e.g., expressing an intent to initiate nursing home placement), isolate (e.g., seclusion from family or friends), or control.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse: verbal or nonverbal behavior that results in the infliction of anguish, mental pain, fear, or distress. Examples include behaviors intended to humiliate (e.g., calling names or insults), threaten (e.g., expressing an intent to initiate nursing home placement), isolate (e.g., seclusion from family or friends), or control.
Financial Abuse or Exploitation: the illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of an older individual’s resources by a caregiver or other person in a trusting relationship, for the benefit of someone other than the older individual. This includes depriving an older person of rightful access to, information about, or use of, personal benefits, resources, belongings, or assets.
Who are the perpetrators?
They are most likely to be adult children. It should be noted that some abusers have a history of mental problems, a tendency to be socially isolated and/or have financial difficulties.
'In a study of 4,156 older adults, family members were the most common perpetrators of financial exploitation of older adults (FEOA) (57.9%), followed by friends and neighbors (16.9%), followed by home care aides (14.9%)'.
Statistics report that life expectancy inthe United States is at 78.84 years old (Donnelly, 2018). If you live to be this age or older, who will be taking care of you?
References
Donnelly, G. (2018, February 9). Why Life Expectancy in the U.S. Dropped Again This Year. Retrieved September 29, 2018, from http://fortune.com/2018/02/09/us-life-expectancy-dropped-again/
Pelz, W. (n.d.). Introduction to Sociology. Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-herkimer-sociology-1/chapter/theoretical-perspectives-on-aging/
What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://ncea.acl.gov/whatwedo/research/statistics.html
Pelz, W. (n.d.). Introduction to Sociology. Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-herkimer-sociology-1/chapter/theoretical-perspectives-on-aging/
Violence Prevention. (2018, May 17). Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/elderabuse/definitions.html
What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://ncea.acl.gov/whatwedo/research/statistics.html
Donnelly, G. (2018, February 9). Why Life Expectancy in the U.S. Dropped Again This Year. Retrieved September 29, 2018, from http://fortune.com/2018/02/09/us-life-expectancy-dropped-again/
Pelz, W. (n.d.). Introduction to Sociology. Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-herkimer-sociology-1/chapter/theoretical-perspectives-on-aging/
Violence Prevention. (2018, May 17). Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/elderabuse/definitions.html
What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2018, from https://ncea.acl.gov/whatwedo/research/statistics.html
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