Risk Abuse and Safeguarding Elderly People - Essay Example

Safeguarding Adults at Risk Table of Contents Introduction 3 Definitions 3 Factors Causing Vulnerability to Olderly Adult People 4 Practice or Recommendations for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult People 9 Conclusion 13 References 15 Introduction Abuse has been the most common issue in the modern era that an individual experiences in his/her life span. Abuse to people including olderly adult people is not only evident in the modern day, but it had been extensive throughout the world from the inception of human civilisation (Pillemer & Wolf, 1986). Contextually, the objective of the current essay is to identify the factors those cause vulnerability to the olderly adult people. It also includes recommendation to some of the safeguarding strategies for such vulnerable group. The current essay on safeguarding vulnerable olderly people is extreme need, as it would considerably protect the olderly people from different types of risks. Definitions Abuse is defined as the improper treatment to an individual or an entity, in order to gain benefit from such practices for a better life (Pillemer & Wolf, 1986). However, this form of benefit is considered as unfair and unethical. There are several categories of abuse, which the world has witnessed. Some of the most common categories of abuse include physical abuse, wherein an individual or group contacts with others and purposes to physical pain, physical suffering, injury, or bodily harm (Summers & Hoffman, 2006). Another category of abuse, which is extensively familiar among women, is the sexual abuse. It is also known as molestation, wherein one individual forces other for undesired sexual behaviour. Moreover, there is another category of abuse, which is provided lesser importance, but has a significant impact on the victim. In this regard, the behaviour of an individual or groups leads to psychological trauma to others. This psychological trauma to the victim includes chronic depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (Sanderson, 2006). Furthermore, another common category of abuse, which is widely notable, is the financial abuse. In financial abuse, individuals create circumstances to obtain financial advantages from others. The victim in such circumstances undesirably has to make payments, which is considered as unethical or immoral. In addition, there is prevalence of another category of abuse, which is the neglect discriminatory abuse (Sajo, 2006). Some of the individuals or groups are highly vulnerable to the different categories of abuse. In this regard, vulnerable is defined as the possibility of being harmed or attacked by the influence of others. Thus, it is important from the perspective of benefiting the society through incorporating some of the safeguarding measures (Sanderson, 2006). Safeguarding to abuse is defined as the protection or pre-cautionary measures undertaken by the vulnerable people in order to ensure safety from abusive attacks (DIANE Publishing Company, 1995). Factors Causing Vulnerability to Olderly Adult People Several factors cause vulnerability to olderly adult people and influence such people to conduct different types of abuse. These factors are illustrated in underneath subheads. According to Green (2008), abuse to olderly adult is largely because of the higher poverty. The report also provides some of the statistical data in New Zealand, which suggest that the nation has witnessed maximum abuse among the poor olderly adult individuals. The reason behind such instance is that poor people have less financial support in order to protect and defend them from different types of abusive attacks. Thus, it signifies that poor olderly adult people in the societies are highly vulnerable to several social abusive attacks (DeKeseredy, 2003). Racism and gender inequality is one of the decisive factors that lead to the increase in vulnerability to different types of abuse among olderly adult people. The social structure that discriminates certain ethnic groups of people from the societies makes such olderly adult groups more vulnerable to the attacks of offenders. In this regard, Chesler (2014) cited that people of Middle East nations severely experience higher degree of gender inequality. This largely influences people of such nations to conduct several abusive activities against olderly adult women. In this regard, olderly adult women in the societies of Middle East nations experience several gender biased discriminations. These discriminations eventually affect olderly adult women of such nations to experience several abusive risks including physical, sexual, and psychological, among several other abuses (Siegel, 2011). Peterson (2013) suggested that lack of education is one of the decisive reasons for the higher abuse among olderly adult people. The lack of education among the victims in safeguarding them from the abusive attacks of the offenders makes the victims more vulnerable. This also lack of education also encourages the offender to execute such offensive practices. Besides this, the lack of education and knowledge regarding the consequent effect of the abusive attacks by the offenders also encourages them to practice such offensive and criminal activities. According to Peterson (2013), New Zealand is one of such nations that witnessed higher degree of abusive attacks among olderly adult having poorer education and knowledge regarding the abusive activities. This lack of knowledge and education is notable among both victims and offenders. Thus, it is eminent that lack of education and knowledge among adult individuals is one of the decisive reasons that cause olderly adult vulnerable to different abusive activities (Vadackumchery, 2000). Another decisive factor that causes vulnerability to adult individuals from different abusive activities is the alcohol and drug consumptions. OFarrell & Fals-Stewart (2012) commented that alcohol and drug consumption is considerably eminent among the olderly adult individuals. The consumptions of drugs and alcohol considerably influence individuals to conduct inappropriate activities. The reason being consumption of such substances leads to addiction. Addicted individuals correspondingly turn into a stage, where they are willing to pay any cost continuing of their addictions. This also influences them to conduct several abusive activities through which they would gain monetary benefit for sufficing their addiction needs. Moreover, OFarrell & Fals-Stewart (2012) also conveyed that majority of the criminals throughout the world are either addicted to alcohol or drugs or any other addiction causing substances. It is notable that the addicted olderly adult individuals not only conduct abusive activities and violence in their societies, but also creates domestic violence. Thus, it is eminent that alcohol and drug consumption is one of the decisive factors that influence olderly adult to conduct abusive activities. This correspondingly causes vulnerability among olderly adult towards different abusive activities (Anderson, n.d.). Lack of family support and social isolation are also the decisive reasons that cause vulnerability to olderly adult from different abusive activities. Olderly adult people are more active and have the tendency to get involved in the abusive activities. In this regard, it is observed that the olderly adult people who do not have any of the family members are highly susceptible to get involved among the different criminal groups in the society. Ashford & LeCroy (2009) suggested such vulnerability to olderly adult people in the United States. However, vulnerability to such people is notable throughout the world thus it is vital to safeguard the olderly adult people (Martinez, 2008). Rwomire (2001) also cited that most of the African nations have considerable social isolations to olderly adult people. This is prominently notable among adult women in such nations. Rwomire (2001) suggested that the reason for such social isolation is the inappropriate social structure and social culture among most of the African nations. Thus, consequently it is eminent that the socially isolated olderly adult women in African nations are highly susceptible to the different abusive activities. This is largely because such individuals do not have the support from society and have high chances in getting involved into abusive activities. Moreover, during any form of abusive attacks to such individuals, the societies do not attempts to protect them. Thus, social isolation along with the lack of support from the family members is also considered as a decisive factor that causes vulnerability to olderly adult people (Martinez, 2008). Mental ill health and depression are also considered as the factors that causes vulnerability to olderly adult individuals in the societies from different abusive attacks. In this regard, Newton (2013) conveyed that people throughout the world attempts to irritate mentally ill health and depressed patients. Thus, such group of individuals are highly vulnerable to the different types of abusive attacks. Moreover, Ries (1996) also cited that most of the people in the society attempts to abuse mentally ill health patients and depressed individuals for fun. Thus, it is rightly asserted that the mentally ill health and depressed olderly adult individuals are highly susceptible to different abusive attacks (Ries, 1996). The poor physical health of the olderly people is another factor that contributes vulnerability among such people. In this regard, the case 1 of Walston & et. al. (2006) cites an olderly man of 75 years is considerably vulnerable from his poor physical health. The individual has witnessed congestive heart failure, hypertension, and knee osteoarthritis. Power inequality among the olderly adult is considered as the significant factor that causes high vulnerability to different types of abusive attacks. In this regard, Ouzgane (2006) commented that power inequality in Yemen largely witnesses to cause different types of abusive attacks to the people of the nation. The high power inequality among the olderly adult people of the nation significantly influences and encourages powerful people to conduct different types of abusive attacks to the individuals, who have low power. Abirafeh (2009) also cited that besides Yemen, there are several other nations possessing high power inequality among people. This includes nation like Afghanistan, Middle East nations, and others. The high power inequality within such nations also discourages the individuals, who have low power to protest against the abusive attacks towards them. Thus, it is eminent that power inequality is also one of the decisive factors that cause vulnerability to olderly adult people (Abirafeh, 2009). There are several nations throughout the world, which are considered to possess inappropriate law and judgements. This has significantly let to the rise of different abusive attacks to the common people. In this regard, Tyler (2010) cited that Afghanistan is one of such nations, which have inappropriate law and judgement. This inappropriate law and judgement in Afghanistan has significantly encouraged individuals to commit several abusive activities. As a result of the increase in different types of abusive activities, the common olderly adult in such nations are highly vulnerable to such abusive activities. Tyler (2010) along with Afghanistan also cited Iraq, Iran, and other Middle East nations and African nations. Moreover, Hartley (2009) also suggested that Libya is one of such nations in the recent time, which have evolved to possess higher degree of abusive attacks to the olderly adult e of the nation. Hartley (2009) cited that this is largely because of the inappropriate law and judgement. The inappropriate law and judgement not only encourages the offenders, but also it considerably discourages the victims to protest against such crimes. This eventually causes high vulnerability to the olderly adult from different types of abusive activities (Hartley, 2009). Ineffective administration is also considered as one of the decisive reason that causes different types of abusive attacks. In this regard, it is eminent that the nation, wherein the administration is ineffective and causes vulnerability to olderly adult from different types of abusive attacks. This ineffective administration is mostly notable among the developing and underdeveloped nations. Aoi (2010) conveyed that the ineffective administration in Iraq is considerably notable in this context. The administration of the nation has often failed to protect the citizens of the nation. According to Miniter (2008), this ineffective administration is also eminent in several other nations including Libya, other politically unstable nations. These nations have also considerably failed to provide protection assistances to its citizens including the olderly adult people. Such circumstances have eventually encouraged offenders to commit different types of abusive activities. Subsequently, it has caused vulnerability to olderly adult from different types of abusive attacks (Miniter, 2008). Practice or Recommendations for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult People From the perspective of establishing peaceful societies throughout the world, it is important to reduce crimes and abusive attacks and thereby reduce the vulnerability among olderly adult for the effectiveness of the society. Thus, recommendations to some of the safeguarding measures to vulnerable olderly adult is extremely important, which are illustrated in the subheads below. It is significantly notable that olderly adults, who have the threat from several abusive activities, are largely affected. This correspondingly leads to the eradication of the basic needs of such vulnerable olderly adults. In this regard, it is recommended that the community and the government should support these populaces by providing adequate and appropriate basic requirements. These basic needs include food, medical assistance, warmth, love and care, among several other requirements related to their economic and social well-being (Ashford & LeCroy, 2009). This would considerably support such vulnerable adult people to safeguard them from the risk of different abusive activities. Moreover, besides the support gained from the community and government, the support obtained from the family members is more decisive. This is because the love and care that the family members would be able to provide is not possible by the community and government (Martinez, 2008). It is considerably eminent that the olderly adults, who lack social and family support, are highly susceptible to different types of abusive activities. Thus, it is recommended that family and social support to every olderly people in the societies is extremely decisive. This support from the society and family would reduce the confidence level among the criminal activities to commit abusive activities (Ashford & LeCroy, 2009). This would significantly protect the vulnerable olderly adult and help in developing a better living. Moreover, social support also indicates abolition of certain social culture that affects common people. This would certainly protect olderly adults from different types of abusive activities occurring within the society (Martinez, 2008). In the case 3 of Walston & et. al. (2006), an olderly man of 82 years old largely witnessed the care of neighbours and friends. The olderly man had a non-syncopal fall along with neck fracture and osteoarthritis in the hands and hips. Unfortunately, the olderly man has none in his family to take care of him, but the support and care from his neighbours and friends largely contributed in his effective recovery. There are certain multi agency policies, which are aimed to considerably support vulnerable people from the risk of abusive activities. Correspondingly, it has been highly effective in safeguarding olderly adults from the risk of different abusive activities, as per the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in the UK (Stationery Office, 2005). It is an act of the UK parliament, which is applicable to England and Wales as well. This act provides a legal framework that undertakes decisions on behalf of the olderly adults, who are incapable of undertaking certain decisions. This considerably supports the olderly adults in the UK to safeguard them from the risk of different abusive activities (Stationery Office, 2005). Furthermore, it is also recommended that the government should implement such policies effectively throughout the nation. It is also eminent from the current essay that inappropriate law and effective judgement has been one of the decisive aspects that increase vulnerability to olderly adult people. Thus, it is important to recommend for strengthening of laws and judgement within every nations. This would not only threaten the criminals, but also would encourage olderly adult to protest against crimes and abusive activities that are practiced in the societies (Tyler, 2010).Strengthening of laws and effective judgement would also lead to effective punitive measures against criminals and offenders. Thus, it would significantly support in safeguarding vulnerable olderly adult for a better future (Herlin-Karnell, 2012). Besides the recommendations to strengthening of laws and effective judgement, it is also important to recommend for the effectiveness and activeness of administration. This would lead to the effective punitive measures against the crimes. From the essay, it is notable that in different developing and underdeveloped nations, ineffective administration is considerably prominent (Aoi, 2010). This has been one of the decisive factors, which cause vulnerability to olderly adult in the nation. Thus, it is extremely important to recommend that every nation should improve the activeness in administration, which would certainly safeguard vulnerable olderly adult from different types of abusive activities (Cronkhite, 2012). Another recommendation, which would considerably safeguard olderly adult individuals from different types of abusive activities, is the education to people. From the current essay, it is also notable that olderly adult who do not have the desirable knowledge in protecting different crimes and abusive activities are the ones, who suffer the most and gets influenced (Vadackumchery, 2000). Moreover, it is also eminent that the lack of consequent knowledge regarding abusive activities among criminals leads to encouragement of such activities. Thus, it is important to recommend in educating people related to different types of abusive activities. This would considerably support in safeguarding vulnerable olderly adult people from different types of abusive activities (Lochne & Moretti, 2003). As mentioned earlier lack of knowledge is one such aspect that affects olderly adult people. Based on the findings of the current essay, it is eminent that the olderly adult, who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, and other addiction substances, are the ones, who commit majority of the abusive activities (OFarrell & Fals-Stewart, 2012). In this regard, it is important to recommend that the society should terminate drugs, alcohol, and other addiction substances. This would considerably reduce abusive activities from the societies. Correspondingly, it would provide significant protection to vulnerable olderly adult people in the societies (Anderson, n.d.). Another recommendation, which is extremely important in safeguarding olderly adult women from different types of abusive activities, is the gender equality. Gender equality would considerably reduce domestic violence and abuses against olderly women. This would not only reduce domestic violence against women, but it would considerably reduce several other social abuses against women (Chesler, 2014). Thus, it is important to recommend that gender equality is a decisive factor, which contributes significantly in safeguarding olderly adult women, who are vulnerable to different types of abusive activities (Steffensmeier & Allan, 1996). Unequal power distribution in the societies is one of the decisive factors that cause vulnerability to olderly adult from different types of abusive activities. Thus, it is recommended that every nations and societies must incorporate equal power distribution among the people (Abirafeh, 2009). This would considerably increase the confidence among the olderly adult vulnerable people to act against different crimes and abusive activities. Thus, it is eminent that equal power distribution among the olderly adult would significantly safeguard them from different types of abusive activities (Liddick, 2004). It can also be recommended that the government of every nation must actively participate in every possible ways through, which criminal and abusive activities can be abolished from the society. In this regard, the government should focus on providing appropriate security to its citizens especially olderly adult people as they have the tendency to get influenced easily. This would considerably support in safeguarding vulnerable olderly adult of the societies from different types of criminal and abusive activities (Chang & et. al., 2011). The need for proper medication and therapeutic measures is also a decisive need for safeguarding olderly man from their vulnerability to poor physical health. In the case 2 of Walston & et. al. (2006), an olderly man of 75 years have issues regarding his physical health. The olderly man has congestive heart failure, hypertension, body fatigue, and knee osteoarthritis. The individual was also transferred to sub-acute rehabilitation unit, where the delirium of the man gradually resolved. The individual gradually recovered from intense care for two weeks, which supported him to regain his mobility and independence. Conclusion From the course of the essay, it is eminent that there are different types of criminal and abusive activities. This abusive activity has been in the increasing trend in the current era. There are certain factors, which have considerably caused vulnerability to olderly adult. The essay suggests that poverty, mental illness, depression, alcohol and drug consumption, and lack of educations are considered as the decisive factor, which causes vulnerability to olderly adult people. Besides this, it is eminent that poor physical health, racism, gender inequality, social isolation, lack of family support, ineffective administration, power inequality, inappropriate law and judgement, are among some of the social factors, which also causes vulnerability among olderly adult people from different types of abusive activities. Thus, in order to establish a better society, it is important to recommend some of the ways through which safeguarding to vulnerable olderly adult people could be gained. In this regard, it is recommended that family and social support, effective medication and therapy, strengthening of laws, effective judgement, and education to people is extremely decisive in terminating crimes from the society. It is also recommended that activeness of government and administration, gender equality, equal distribution of power, termination of alcohol, drugs, and other addictive substances would also reduce crimes and abusive activities from the societies. This would considerably safeguard olderly adult people from different types of abusive activities. Eventually, it would support in establishing a peaceful society throughout the world. This also implies to the overall human development throughout the world by safeguarding the olderly adult people. References Abirafeh, L., 2009. Gender and International Aid in Afghanistan: The Politics and Effects of Intervention. McFarland. Anderson, T. L., No Date. Drug Use and Gender. University of Illinois, pp. 286-288. Aoi, C., 2010. Legitimacy and the Use of Armed Force: Stability Missions in the Post-Cold War Era. Routledge. Ashford, J. & LeCroy, C., 2009. Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective. Cengage Learning. 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