BHE 415 - Community and Domestic Violence (Module 4-SLP) - Essay Example

Elder Abuse: The Major Consequences Elderly people are the people who deserve to live a respectful and comfortable life as they reach this stage after they have fulfilled their duties towards the family, society and self. Sadly, elderly person’s abuse has become a major problem of the society today. The disappointing thing is that the elder people are not only being mistreated by the professional caregivers but also by their own close relatives.

There are different types of violence towards elderly people like physical violence, sexual violence and psychological violence. The rate of physical violence towards the elderly people is more than the street violence and the studies have shown that elderly people are more likely to be harmed by family members than the strangers (Quinn & Tomita 1997 p33). Reasons for elderly abuse not being reported: The fact that most of the abuse is caused at the hands of children, spouse or close relatives make it shameful for the elders being abused to report it to the authorities.

There are different reasons for not reporting the abuse and most of them are based on the fear of being exposed in the society. Some of the reasons that lead to not exposing the torture and the abuse are protection of the family privacy, embarrassment in front of people, humiliation, fear that they will be tortured more if the abuse is reported, a belief that they deserve the abuse and the fear that if the abuse is reported then they will be sent to the care center and hence lose the privacy of life (Elder Abuse Awareness n.d.).

However, there are other reasons like elderly people being incapable of understanding that they are being abused. Elderly people suffering from mental problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s are not in position to understand that they are being abused(Quinn & Tomita 1997 p53). In the book, ‘Mental abuse and neglect’, a case of a elderly woman who was 78-year old and was a widow, is described. In this case, the elderly woman confused her son to be her husband and was being sexually exploited by her son.

So even the physical and mental incapability of reporting the abuse is a cause of the abuse not getting reported. Short term and long term impact of the abuse: The short term consequences are mostly physical in nature like bruises over the body, scratches, scars and injuries caused to the hands and legs (Quinn & Tomita 1997 p49). The consequences of sexual abuse are venereal disease and genital infection (Major types of elder abuse 2007).

However, these short term consequences of physical and sexual abuse lead to long term consequences like blood clotting , serious physical injuries and even death. The most harmful and long term consequences are mental and emotional in nature. The long term consequences are the feeling of helplessness, depression, loss of interest in life, fear, suicidal tendency and desire for isolation. The long term consequences are caused by the physical and the emotional abuse that seems short term in nature.

However, the repetitive physical violence lead the elderly people to feel that they are worthless and make them to stop fighting for life (Krug & World Health Organization 2002 p133). This is the reason reporting elderly abuse is also a responsibility of people who notice the abuse taking place. Elderly people deserve to live happily and respectfully. It is the duty of the society to give the elderly people a right to live. References:Central California Legal Services (n.d.).

Elder Abuse Awareness.Retrieved July 8, 2009, from http://www.centralcallegal.org/abuse/abuse.html#anchor151687Krug ,E & W.H.O. (2002) World report on violence and healthBy Etienne G., World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization.Quinn,M. & Tomita, S. (1997). Elder abuse and neglect: causes, diagnosis, and intervention strategiesSpringer Publishing Company.National Center On Elder Abuse ( September 28, 2007). Major Types Of AbuseRetrieved July 8, 2009, from http://www.ncea.aoa.

gov/ncearoot/Main_Site/FAQ/Basics/Types_Of_Abuse.aspx