Agency targets elder abuse

    Abuse and neglect of older adults remains under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem; yet every year, an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect, according to the American Psychological Association’s Office on Aging. Visiting Nurses of Aroostook is taking a stand against elder abuse to help raise awareness of the problem and educate the local community on how to recognize and reduce cases of abuse.
    Elder abuse involves not only doing something that results in harm or puts a helpless elderly person at risk of harm, but also failing to do something to prevent harm, such as neglecting or deserting an older person for whom one is responsible. Typically, medical personnel, nursing home workers, peace officers, emergency personnel, public officials, social workers, counselors and clergy are listed as mandatory reporters, and that responsibility is spreading to financial institutions and other entities that work with seniors.
    According to statistics, for every case of elder abuse reported, another 12 to 13 are not. Older citizens may fear retaliation from the abuser, or believe that if they turn in the abuser, no one else will take care of them. When the caregivers are their children, they may be ashamed that their children are behaving abusively, blame themselves, or not want their children to get in trouble with the law.
    Preventing elder abuse means doing three things: listening to seniors and their caregivers, intervening when you suspect elder abuse and educating others about how to recognize and report elder abuse. For caregivers pushed beyond their limits, it is important to have a plan that allows time off for the caregiver. For more information and resources about elder abuse, please visit www.visitingnursesofaroostook.org and click on the Elder Abuse banner on the home page.
    For more information about its home care and hospice services, please visit them at www.visitingnursesofaroostook.org or call 498-2578.