Highlights of this Article
- Elderly abuse (including financial abuse and emotional abuse) occurs among all socioeconomic groups, including among the affluent, and weakens the dignity of all older persons.
- One of the most common forms of elderly abuse is financial exploitation. It is often perpetrated by a close family member or friend.
- Legal and community involvement at the local level is THE BEST way for older adults experiencing abuse to gain access to recourse and justice.
- Education, awareness and multi-generational collaboration are all important factors in the protection of the elderly from those who prey on them.
Understanding Elderly Abuse within the Affluent
Elderly abuse is an issue that affects all people. While elderly abuse exists across class lines, there is a common misconception that elderly people living in wealthy areas do not experience elder abuse simply because of their financial resources. Elderly people who live in affluent neighborhoods are at a greater risk of experiencing elder abuse because family members or caregivers of the elderly are often people who have earned the trust of the elderly and are often more likely to be able to carry out this abuse without fear of being discovered. Examples of this abuse are some of the same examples provided by the New York Times that demonstrate that the affluent have a greater chance of experiencing not just financial exploitation, but psychological exploitation, both of which often occur after a long period of time.
There are also different barriers that may prevent individuals who are experiencing abuse in a wealthy or high-status environment from seeking assistance. For example, the issue of preserving a family’s public image, concerns about the potential for social isolation, or misplaced trust in an esteemed individual such as a physician, lawyer, clergy member, or other community leader may cause the individual to be reluctant to speak out against his/her abuser. Advocates like Claudette Rickett Schwartz are aware of these factors and can help find ways to alleviate these barriers to help the abusive situation be revealed sooner rather than later. Elder abuse cases may remain hidden from society for long periods of time and may result in serious emotional distress, loss of funds, loss of autonomy, and ultimately, a significant loss of dignity for the elderly person. Elder Abuse can take many forms but one of the largest and most damaging forms is that of financial exploitation of affluent older adults. Affluent older adults are often taken advantage of by caregivers or family members to whom they have placed their trust. Financial exploitation of an older adult is usually accomplished by creating a dependency on others, which can result in substantial amounts of financial loss. In fact, the estimated financial loss ranges from $2.6 billion to $36.5 billion annually, caused by financial exploitation of older adults in the United States. In addition, the psychological effects of elder abuse are serious and include feelings of isolation from others and loss of autonomy.
Legal Interventions and Community Support
To effectively prevent the occurrence of elder abuse, immediate legal action and a comprehensive level of community support are necessary. There are numerous agencies that have created programs and services specifically designed to help older adults who have been victims of elder abuse through the necessary legal assistance. For example, Equal Justice Works has created and implemented programs that connect older adults who have experienced elder abuse to attorneys who can help them with issues related to financial exploitation, identity theft, misuse of power of attorney, and assist them in regaining control over their own lives.
Elder abuse legal services, as well as other crisis intervention, case management, and counseling services through community partners, are a critical part of the recovery process for victims of elder abuse. The effectiveness of support systems for elder abuse will depend on sufficient funding, training and collaboration with law enforcement, healthcare providers and advocacy groups.
Increasing Community Awareness Through Education
Education is one of the key tools for preventing elder abuse. There are numerous events throughout the year, including World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 every year, that are dedicated to raising public awareness of this hidden epidemic. In addition, universities, nonprofits and city agencies offer workshops and conferences where experts from various communities come together to share their expertise on best practices, Case Studies and prevention strategies. By providing a platform for community members to collectively mobilize to protect their most vulnerable older members, these events help to ensure that everyone has access to the resources and information necessary to protect themselves and their family members from elder abuse.
Everyone who interacts with an elderly person is in a position to see and recognise the signs of potential elder abuse. By providing accurate information and resources to family members and friends who regularly interact with their elderly loved ones, as well as other professionals, we can empower them to act as swiftly as possible when they suspect that an older relative is being subjected to abuse.
Implementation of Appropriate Prevention Measures
The successful prevention of elder abuse will only take place if all individuals and organisations that interact with older adults do so on an ongoing basis and that each of them makes a concerted effort to prevent the occurrence of elder abuse. Strategies that have been shown to effectively prevent elder abuse include:
- Review regularly the financial accounts and statements of older adults to look for any suspicious activity.
- Promote open and continuous communication between older adults and their family members or legal representatives.
- Provide training for healthcare providers, caregivers and social workers on how to both recognise and report elder abuse.
- Increasing the social connections of older adults because a lack of connection may put them at greater risk of being abused.
These methods provide a safe and supportive environment for the elderly to ask for help without feeling ashamed or embarrassed by doing so.
Technology’s Role in Elder Abuse
The swift growth of technology presents new challenges and risks of elder abuse from predators. Scammers are presently employing sophisticated technology such as ‘deep fakes’ for audio/ video to impersonate an elder’s loved ones in real time, manipulating them into believing their loved ones are in an emergency situation and need large sums of money sent or critical information to be divulged. The level of sophistication of these types of attacks on the elderly is so high that even the most reliable warning signs (that typically alert a person to an impending scam) will fail an elder.
Many seniors have admitted to researchers that their primary source of information and guidance about potential victimization on the Internet is through their family members they trust—generally younger relatives with better technology skills. Connecting with younger relatives within an intergenerational community environment has proven as an invaluable resource for seniors. There exists tremendous potential to improve protection for older adults by creating avenues for validating intergenerational relationships and assisting with technology use.
Community Partnerships and Support Systems
Many local organizations and community-based programs directly support seniors in abusive situations. The New York City Department for the Aging is one example of how local government programs have expanded services for seniors affected by abuse by providing increased access to counseling, crisis intervention and safety planning in collaboration with local organizations. These programs are examples of a network of response systems that can be duplicated in communities across the country.
Community outreach through various methods (i.e., senior centers, faith-based organizations, etc.) creates connection, education and empowerment for seniors—therefore providing a continued connection to their community.
Conclusion
Ending elder abuse is not an easy task within affluent communities; however, through collaboration there is potential for progressive improvements. Families, attorneys representing seniors, health care providers, and community members all play an active role in developing a safe and supportive environment for older adults. Awareness of the problem, creative preventative actions, understanding technology’s proper use, and enhancing community-based support systems will all contribute to significant lasting change.