4 Elderly Health

Elderly Healthcare-The Abuse

Elder abuse is a very serious issue in elderly health care. This can happen by an at home provider, family member or nursing home worker among others. The abuse found in elderly health care can be physical, sexual, or emotional in nature. Sometimes, but not very often, an elderly healthcare provider does not even realize they are doing it. One of the main reasons that can cause a caregiver to become abusive is depression and stress. Working in the elderly health care field can lead to both of these.

Physical abuse is the most common form that occurs in the elderly health care field. When care givers get upset at the elderly patient and hits them, this is abuse. A more accurate definition for elderly abuse is any force used against an elderly person that results in pain and injury and not done by accident.

Another common form found in elderly health care is emotional abuse. This results when the care giver talks to the elderly patient in a manner that is rude and offensive. Some examples are intimidation by yelling or threatening the patient, humiliating or ridiculing the patient and finally blaming or using the elderly patient as a scapegoat.

There are some warning signs to watch for if there is suspected abuse. The two main ones are if there is a visible change in the elderly patients\’ personality, this should be checked out right away. The other is frequent arguments between the care giver and the patient this can signal abuse or possible abuse.

Other signs to watch for are such things like changes in physical appearance, any visible signs of bruises or welts, marks on the wrist from being restrained, signs of over or under medicating and the care giver not allowing you to be alone with the patient.

Putting in preventive measures in the elderly health care field is the best precaution to protect against abuse. The best way for someone to find a care giver for their elderly relative is to figure out the needs the patient requires. Ask for references, preferably from other families who had the care giver take care of their elderly relative. Obtain a background check to make sure there are no abuse claims. Be sure to look for a caregiver who has the experience in the elderly health care field. Finally monitor your elderly relative. Any physical signs of abuse or neglect need to be investigated right away.