Who is an Ombudsman and What Do They Do?
“Ombudsman” is a term that means “citizen representative.” The Ombudsman program in the U.S. started as a response to the need for a citizen representative for older people, and this citizen representative would then look into complaints about the quality of life in the nation’s nursing homes. The local ombudsman marks a focal point where […]
Elder Sexual Abuse
Elder sexual abuse is defined as any unwanted sexual conduct against someone who is aged 60 years of age or over. The abuse may stem from tricking, manipulating, or coercing the person into any undesired sexual contact. This also includes contact with someone who is unable to communicate their consent or voice disapproval. Elders who […]
Alcohol and Prescription Drug Abuse in Elderly
When many people think of things like alcohol and drug abuse, their minds often flock to images of teenagers or young adults. The truth is, however, that anyone can have struggles with these things, regardless of their age, and the number of older adults who struggle with alcohol and prescription drug abuse is continuing to […]
Why Do People Target the Elderly?
It’s an unfortunate part of life that the older we get, the more likely we are to be taken advantage of. But why is that? Why is it that the elderly are so often victims of different scams and fraud, and why are they sometimes treated so poorly in general? The answer is a simple […]
Elders and Self-Neglect
While we often think of elder abuse as coming from an outside source, it can be equally tragic when the elder is abusing him or herself in the form of self-neglect. We know that neglect occurs when any caregiver either refuses or is simply unable to properly care for those in their charge. “Active” neglect […]
Monitoring Credit Reports and Getting Them for Free
To obtain your free credit report, you can visit www.annualcreditreport.com. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the major nationwide credit reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—are required to give you a free copy of your credit report when you request it, once every year. The FCRA promotes both the accuracy and privacy of information within […]
Overview of Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse (also called psychological abuse) is one of the most common forms of elder abuse. When dealing with emotional abuse, it can be quite difficult to identify because there aren’t normally any physical signs of emotional distress in older people. It’s also important to note that emotional abuse can happen in a nursing home […]
Behavioral Indicators of Abuse
If someone has been abused, tragically, there is a chance that they will try their best to hide it. However, little hints of how they’re actually feeling may be glimpsed no matter how hard they try to keep them at bay. These indicators are known as behavioral indicators, and if we’re paying attention, we may […]
What to Do When You See a Bruise
When a loved one moves into a nursing home for the first time, many people are afraid of the potential for abuse of their loved one. Nursing homes sometimes have bad connotations attached to them, and any bruises that are found on a resident of a facility should not be ignored. Bruises (which are actually […]
Indicators of Abuse
As we’ve seen, abuse among the elderly is, sadly, all too common. It can happen in their own homes or in places like nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and perpetrators can be family members or caregiving professionals. Let’s spend some time looking at some signs and symptoms that can often be indicators that abusive […]
