Elder Abuse: Emerging Issues, Perpetration and Protection

This document discusses the concept of elder violence and abuse, its effects on individuals, families, and communities, and the available remedies to address elder abuse. It also explores the laws and regulations related to domestic violence and abuse, and highlights the steps taken by governments to control this issue.

Elder Abuse:
Emerging issues,
perpetration and
protection.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Concept of Elder Violence & Abuse. .........................................................................................3
Effects and Perpetration of Elder-abuse .....................................................................................5
Remedies available to address the Elder-abuse..........................................................................6
Law relating to Domestic Violence & Abuse.............................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
The increased crimes within a nations are credited majorly to elder violence and sexual
abuse cases which are significant public health issue. The proper awareness and education is
being lacked by the people to overcome it. The Governments and various non - profit
organisations in last times have taken up the aim to aware the people in concern of this issue. In
accordance to a Crime Survey for England and Wales, it is estimated that nearby 2.3 million
people of median age group included is 20-74 years have experienced abuse in the year 2020
(Domestic abuse prevalence and trends, England and Wales: year ending March 2020, 2021).
The police of UK specifically highlighted that there is 9% increase in cases of violence from last
year. This year spike in cases was result of Coronavirus pandemic. The aim of this report is to
highlight the effects of elder abuse and the medical remedies available to victims is presented.
Lastly, the related rules and regulations and various steps taken by the Government to control
this is also presented.
Concept of Elder Violence & Abuse.
The term elder is said to a person who is more than the age of 65 or more. Similarly,
elder violence or abuse refers to the setting in which the one member tries to gain control over
others in certain relationship (Shepherd and Brochu, 2020). The behaviour and patterns of
violence and abuse includes injuring, harming, intimidating, blaming, traumatizing emotionally,
mentally, verbally or physically. It includes the mistreatment and abuse of adults in society and
family setting. It is increasing at an speedy rate due to lack of proper definition and authority to
handle specifically, the elder abuse is considered as one branch of domestic violence. The elder
abuse can be faced by any person irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion and sex. The cases of
violence can be faced in family, between partners and in society even. There are various types of
the elder abuse being faced such as;
According to FindLaw’s team, (2018), Physical abuse includes the injuring, hitting, hurting,
wounding someone physically. This is the act of violence with intention to injure the other
person. The other party being injured largely includes the deny of medical treatment even in
emergency also (Domestic Violence and Abuse, 2020).
As per the statements of Bows and Penhale (2018) Sexual abuse is the majorly faced
threat of violence in society. The sexual abuse refers to attacking the other party sexually without

taking the consent and permission of other party. The forms of sexual abuse includes the rape,
harming sexually and even mocking or making demeaning sexual jokes and comments which are
inappropriate in listening. Even these undesirable comments impacts emotionally and harms
latter. It is also referred to molestation which is abusive sexual behaviour via one individual on
other. It covers any type of behaviour by an elder person towards a child or pupils for stimulating
any sort of involved sexually. In nearby 90% of cases, abuser is an individual who is known to a
child.
According to Sherri Gordon, (2020), Emotional abuse often refers to the control and
bullying by the person with intention to defame and make the person to lose the self-confidence
and motivation. The intention is to make the other person weak and self-doubt own capability.
The economic or financial abuse refers to the type of putting the financial restrictions and
putting the latter on dependent for the resources on former party. The intention is to diminish the
own worth of resource and to be dependent on other for the sources to live.
Psychological abuse is use of the words to make them feel confuse and in turn they harm
themselves. The main intention behind this type of violence is to make the person feel weaken
and in that course they are left with the option to harm themselves. The intender just act by
saying and bullying and this causes the physical reaction by the other party (Westwood, 2019).
Stalking crime is also type of threat and violence being done. The irregular pampering which
makes the other feel suffocated is also a type of abuse. This act makes the person to feel shallow
and fear in speaking and the other uses the benefit of this act and makes them mentally weak.
Other increasing crime or abuse is domestic abuse which includes threatening, violent
behaviour and many more at home comprising adult children as well as other adult member of
family. In contrary, people uses the word for reflecting towards their behaviour that is used by an
intimate partner for the purpose of establishing power addition to control on other partner via
fear along with intimidation. To threat others, people are using cyber stalking and cybercrime
wherein an individual is being threatened and followed online. This continuous online tracking
and tracking of activities is done with the intention to harm other party (Roberto and Deater-
Deckard, 2018). The unfair remarks are being made and threat of sharing the photos and videos
is being given it is being more used in dating and social networking sites. Due to which the other
party is being feel depressed and gain the anxiety issues which results in certain physical harm.

In this they continuously puts pressure resulting them to share their banking details which leads
to theft.
The neglection is the denial to accept the services and sharing space with the elders. The
another from of this abuse is abandonment and causing them harm and denying the obligation of
keeping them.
These all are the types of the elder abuses being faced in daily life by the elders. Elder-
abuse does not have certain persons who face it can be faced by any section, class, caste creed
and religion. Nearby 1 to 6 in people of around 60 years as well as older experienced some type
of abuse within community setting. Rates related to elder abuse are high in institutions including
long term care facilities together with nursing homes with around 2 to 4 staff reporting which
have committed abuse (Chopin and Beauregard, 2020). It is analysed that elder abuse or EA
causes serious physical injuries as well as long term psychological consequences. In various
nations, EA is forecasted to enhance with rapid consequences.
Effects and Perpetration of Elder-abuse
According to Amodeo, (2017), there is extensive effects which is being faced by the
individuals who have been face of this violence. The impact of elder violence makes an last
longing imprecision on one's health. The effects can be divided further on individual who faced
the violence, family and society as whole. The person who has faced the violence and abuse may
face long lasting health effect. The major issues being faced by the person who have faced such
act result in majorly the death, illness and disability. The other major issues being faced is
emotional and psychological traumas.
The traumatizing results the of this abuse leaves the elders incapable of thinking calmly.
This effect leaves the person with logic of just thinking of suicide, depression and in this course
they are just capable of thinking to harm themselves. The other impact results in excessive use of
alcohol and drugs which violates the health internally. This addiction so created is such harmful
in nature whose reduction just needs some medical treatment. This all results in the physical
injuries which requires proper treatment otherwise the person may permanently lose they life.
The frustration of being abused and harassed for so long creates the numbness in which the
person just think negatively and think of ultimately just ending the life (Penti, Timmons and
Adams, 2018). The impact on the elders includes major impact on the health which affect their
future. The commonly faced problems are aggression towards the other family members and

society members ,losses self- confidence, face trouble in thinking positively and concentrating,
face problem to interact and communicate with unknown, start getting anxiety attacks which
further impacts the health.
According to Fairchild, McFerran, and Thompson, (2017), The effects on the family
whose member have faced the abuse and violence impacts the family members also. The
negative environment is being created in which the house which takes away the peace of other
members. Elder abuse along with neglect is a repeated act that occurs within any relationship in
which there is expectation of trust that causes distress, harm and others to an older person. Up to
70000 older people experiences some type of elder abuse in a year. This constant atmosphere
results in the conflicts and increased arguments at home. This impacts the integrity of family and
beholds the police environment which takes away the trust between other family members. When
young generation looks towards elder abuse then it impacts their behaviour by seeing such
pattern in their surrounding. This impacts the youngsters mentally and behaviourally.
According to Kilimnik, Pulverman and Meston, (2018) The effects on the community
affects the economy largely also. The increased chances of the crimes are being uphold which
creates fear among the general public for their safety. The consumption of the substances which
affects the health increase to an extent i.e. alcohol and drug substances. The focus of the
economy shifts from economic well-being to treatment of abusers. Elder abuses damages family
relationships as over half of community experiences abuse suffer debilitating long term issues of
health including anxiety disorder, exacerbation of chronic health and depression which acts as
direct result of abuse. In accordance to Bows (2019), it is analysed that elder abuse affects
lifestyle and behaviour towards living. It also mentally disturbs people that becomes victim of
the issue. A research states that inaction for violence against elder people causes serious
economic costs to communities along with countries. Elder abuse is one of complex social
problem which approx 10 percent of people aged 60 or above experiences. It lose to an estimated
value of pound 4.5 million a year as an outcome of financial exploitation. From the investigation,
it can be depicted that elder abuse is critical community health issue that causes depression,
withdraw of social interaction, blaming self and higher rate of hospitalisation.
According to Mathews, Lee and Norman, (2016), There are certain actions by which the
person facing the elder abuse or violence can be identified to an extent. The common emotional
and physical problems being faced is the loose of positiveness, lack of trust, harming signs on the

body, shortness of breath and restlessness, certain phobias, the deteriorated health problem and
disturbed pattern of eating and sleeping etc. issues. The mental issues being faced by elder is
anxiety, trust issue, depression, low self-confidence, suicidal thoughts or negative thought to
harm themselves and post traumatic disorders which includes uncontrollable negative thoughts
and addiction towards the alcohol and drugs etc. With the identification of such acts one can
easily identify the person facing such issue and immediately the due acre and treatment can be
advised to the elder person. The signs of the abusive relationship are being such as constant fear
to talk up to partner, believing ourselves inappropriate for the partner, the constant feel that we
are meant for hurting, the feel of numbness and helplessness.
Remedies available to address the Elder-abuse
According to Pilgrim, (2017) The medical science has developed a lot and these
developments resulted in new practices and treatment to address the violence and abuses cases.
Sometimes the treatment doesn't need just medical tablets it needs other therapies to resolve such
issues. The Therapeutic Interventions is used to address the intimate partner violence and other
types of abuses being faced. The counselling is one such treatment available to cope with the
trauma created due to the cause of violence and abuse. In counselling using various therapies the
affected person is being tried to open up and refresh their thoughts, with intention of getting back
stability in thinking patterns which is being lost. The counsellor acts as the person who just by
talking or through conducting various creative sessions tries with the affected party to
emotionally connect and relieve their burden, so that they feel light. The creative and healing
sessions include drawing, meditation, walk in nature etc. techniques which makes the person
relives the stress and gain freshness to start over again. Sometimes the mix of the therapies and
medications is used to make the affected person to be normal. The high level of addiction and
drugs resulted in major health problems for which rehabilitation is required to de addict such
substance consumption. Through use of various techniques of counselling such as the acceptance
and commitment theory the main motive is to make the person accept and commit of the facts
which is being done cognitively at time.
The use of behavioural therapies is used to analyse the thinking and acting patterns of
persons. Sometimes the pain is so much that the person is being drawn in unconscious state and
then the emotional stress is being addressed to relive the stress. This requires the medical and
therapeutic treatment to de stress and treats the person. Once the emotional stress is being

addressed then it requires some guidance and counselling sessions to again get grip over the
normal living. As, the patterns of thinking and actions is being lost by the person, to get again the
normal living without any regrets the therapies is required by them. These therapies sessions are
planned differently for every person depending on the impact of violence and abuse that they
have faced. The therapy sessions help the person to overcome their fears of being judged by
someone known and they can freely express their views with the therapist and counsellor. The
trust and confidentiality is the principle of these sessions (Purser, Cockburn and Ulrick, 2019).
These sessions are continued till the person overcome the fear and regain their sense. In
regaining back again the sessions are continued till the therapist feel that the person is acting and
thinking in an acceptable way. These, treatment are proving effective an efficient to deal with the
traumas faced in violence and abuse. The UK Government also provides the toll free number
specially designed to handle these issue under name of National Domestic Abuse Helpline, in
which 24*7 service is provided related to violence & abuse, the information is kept confidential.
The shelter homes is being made to provide the shelters to abandoned elders.
Law relating to Domestic Violence & Abuse
According to Sherman, (2018) Elder abuse has been a very lightly taken by the society.
There are various adults who are being subject to domestic violence, especially during the lock
down phase when the whole country was locked into the home. Apart from adults, there are men
and children too who have faced the domestic violence and affected wither physically or
mentally. The legislature of the country UK is very strong enough to make such laws for
protecting the women from the abuses like physical, verbal, sexual, etc. There are many signs
which defines the kind of abuse a person is suffering which involves emotional abuse which is
mainly suffered by the people when they are threatened to be hurt or killed or even when their
things are destroyed. This affects them emotionally. Another abuse is physical abuse which
occurs when someone physically harms another. Sexual abuse is also one such which may
happen to anybody. It involves touching in a wrong way, unwanted sex demands, hurting during
the sex and many other circumstances.
According to the law of UK, domestic violence is a criminal offence. The law which
protects the people from the domestic violence is Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act,
2004 which provide legal assistance and protection to the victim who have suffered domestic
violence (Hudson, Bowen and Nielsen, 2020). The law provides the provision for the trials

without the jury and even brings new rules for the trial if the death is caused of the child or the
vulnerable adult.
In case a person is charged with the criminal offence of domestic violence, he/she shall
be entitled for the punishment of maximum 6 months and a fine of maximum 5000 euros. This
law does not provide protection to the victim for the future harassment but for the offence which
has been committed in the present. But the court may if it thinks fits, provide the restraining
order in order to prevent the future harassment without the need for the future hearing (Maydell,
2018). This order may be given even if the defendant is not found guilty but to protect the victim
from harassment. In case any person breaches the restraining order, he/she shall be subject to
penalty and imprisonment.
The law for the domestic violence has a provision for the compensation under the
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme which awards compensation to the person who have
suffered any injury due to violent crime (Shepherd and Brochu, 2020). The main aim of this
scheme is to acknowledge and recognise by the society that the wrong has been committed as
money alone will not compensate for what the victim has suffered from the violence.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussions it can be concluded that the elder abuse is one of social, health
and economic issue. Elder abuse is distinguished into several kinds of abuses namely physical
abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, financial abuse and exploitation. Therefore, the Government is
taking various measures to increase the awareness related to this. The Government is also taking
various steps at national and regional levels to control this and providing various supports to
victim to provide justice. The need is to implement the rules strictly in order to decrease the
cases and such cases should be resolved at top priority. The offence and punishments are defined
clearly but the trail of cases take long time which needs to shortened. This will increase the fear
among people to attempt such case.

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