Elder abuse has been growing in awareness in today’s society. But people are still unaware what elder abuse truly is. Elder abuse is defined as “…abuse committed against a person in the advanced years of their life…” (Victims of Violence, 2008). It shocks me that not only do strangers do this but so do their children and health care providers in care homes.
As the baby boomer generation begin to retire, and the generation before them being put into care homes or moving in with their children, we are seeing a lot more elder abuse. Also, the gender norms for today’s society tell women to be passive and obedient. Because of this women are seen as vulnerable and easily harmed. “For example, in 1997 there were 359 Criminal Code violent offenses against women ages 65 and older…” often were being a relative of the victim (Hightower, Smith, Hightower, 2001). Out of these perpetrators, “…40% were the victim’s spouse, 40% her adult child, 12% a sibling, and 8% other family including extended family” (Hightower et al., 2001).
Are the elderly going to be safe anywhere in today’s society if they can’t even trust their own children? Does getting older mean that this might happen to us or someone we really care about? There was a case in 2004 where an elderly woman in Ontario was placed in two homes where she was abused. The article states “in Canada, not one province has regulations covering abuse in retirement homes” (CTV, 2004). The Ontario Residential Care Association accredits for 60% of homes in Ontario, and “that means 60% are inspected… (and) 40% are not…” (CTV, 2004).
Another example of elderly abuse was a case where a woman was living in her son’s garage, last February 2011. The article, strengthened by the video, says that she only had access to “… a box of adult diapers, one piece of bread and a mattress on top of a sheet of plywood…”, “… a portable toilet and had only a bucket for washing” (CBC, 2011). Please view video on the following link.
As my grandparents and parents get older, this really makes me think twice about placing them in a home without extensive research. As someone gets older and having to rely on others for help, they shouldn’t have to worry about who’s going to hurt them in what way. I strongly believe that without regular inspections and stronger policies this will continue to happen. What is stopping someone from continuing these habits if authority figures do nothing but stand by? If it is not okay to be bullied or abused when your younger, what makes it okay when your older? The government is beginning to make elder abuse more aware to the public, but even this can be hard to find if you don’t know where to look. The new generations need to become aware of this problem to become fully successful in preventing elder abuse.
~Joelle
Reference List
Hightower, J., Smith M.J., Hightower H. (2001)Silent and Invisible: A report on abuse and violence in the lives of older women in British Columbia and Yukon. Vancouver, BC: B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses.
Senior Found Freezing in Couple’s Garage. (2011, February 28). CBC News. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/02/28/toronto-senior-garage-police485.html
Canada Help me: Elder Abuse in Canada. (2004, February 6). CTV News Canada. Retrieved from http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/WFive/20040206/wfive_elder_abuse_040207/
Victims of Violence. (2011, February 28). Research- Elder Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.victimsofviolence.on.ca/rev2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=343&Itemid=33
Wow this is very sad to hear and the link that you had made me sick in my stomach. How can children do this to their parents? There is a lot of neglect and abuse regarding elders and i agree with you this for sure needs to be taken serious and programs need to be put in place so that this is brought to a stop! With our population of elders increasing i hope we don't see this increase in our society. Good Job Joelle!
ReplyDelete-Samantha
This is a terrible reality. To be an older adult and to have people that you have cared for treat you this way is heartbreaking. I can`t even imagine treating my parents that way. This is just another area in which the government has failed to provide for its older population. Often many of the abused older adults fear disclosing the abuse because there is no one else who will care for them. More regulations and better inspection practices need to be put in place, in order to ensure that older adults are being treated well as they age.
ReplyDeleteKirsten
This story is just horrible. Thinking that this women most likely raised her son, and then he has done this to her... is just disgusting. The population of older people is said to increase tremendously, and with these issues not being taken care of when the population is not as prominent.. what will it be like when older people will be 25% of our whole population? There needs to be changes to policy now.
ReplyDeleteJenn S
I know that Age and opportunity in Winnipeg has 6 appartments for dealing with the issue of elder abuse. in comparison Toronto Only has 1 appartment. I also know from working at Elizabeth Fry that with the money from the residential school settlement that the aboriginal community is scrabbling to deal with this issue.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Thank you for sharing this, Joelle. It's really scary to think that this is something that happens to elderly people on a daily basis. I strongly believe that the only people you can truly count on is your family. I can't even imagine how hard it must be for the elderly to know they have to fear their own children! This is an issue that the Canadian government should find a way to deal with immediately.
ReplyDelete- Adrienne A.
Thanks for the great post! I would not put my mother in the care of anyone else, especially knowing the amount of abuse in care homes and by home care workers. They should really start to make some very strong statements by setting some harsh penalties for this, maybe it would help to get the idea across that you cannot abuse people, especially the vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your post,
Brenda