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Author: Sandi Winston (MSN, RN)

How large is the elderly population?

In the United States, the elderly population, or those aged 65 and older, continues to grow at a rapid rate. Due to the Baby Boomer generation, or those born between 1946 and 1964, the United States currently has over 40 million individuals age 65 and older. By 2050, this number is expected to double. Due to advancements in healthcare, better exercise and dietary practices, and new technologies, individuals continue to live longer, healthier lives. As our population ages, it is our responsibility to ensure we protect geriatric individuals; this includes understanding how to recognize and report suspected elder abuse.

How prevalent is the Elder Abuse today?

Approximately one in ten elderly individuals are abused or neglected annually.¹ Still, for every case that is reported, there are at least five others that are not reported.² The National Council on Aging defines Elder Abuse as “intentional actions that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm (whether or not harm is intended) to a vulnerable elder by a caregiver or person who stands in a trust relationship to the elder.³” In Iowa, sixteen-hundred cases of dependent adult abuse are reported annually.¹⁹

Dependent adult abuse or maltreatment is a significant public health problem. Each year, hundreds of thousands of adults over the age of 60 are abused, neglected, or financially exploited. In the United States alone, over 500,000 older adults are believed to be abused or neglected each year. These statistics are likely an underestimate because many victims are unable or afraid to tell the police, family, or friends about the violence.⁴ Furthermore, those who become aware of the issue may fail to accurately report the abuse or neglect.

It has become such a concern worldwide, in fact, that World Elder Abuse Awareness Day occurs each year on June 15^th. This is a day to educate the public on the signs of elder abuse, how to report suspected abuse, and what circumstances surround this abuse.⁵

What is Elder Abuse?

There are six forms of abuse that occur in people over the age of 60 include:

Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Neglect
Abandonment
Financial Abuse

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is “the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment.⁶” This includes striking, hitting, beating, shoving, pushing, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching, and burning. In addition to these, utilizing drugs or physical objects to restrain a patient or forcing them to eat or drink against their will are also classified as physical abuse. It often begins with what is excused as trivial contact escalating into more frequent and serious attacks.

As healthcare providers, we must diligently assess our patients for signs of physical abuse, document these signs, and report them to the appropriate individuals. Be aware of possible signs of physical abuse, including⁶:

Bruises, black eyes, lacerations, restraint/ rope marks
Broken bones and fractures, or skull fractures
Sprains, dislocations or internal injuries/bleeding
Open wounds, cuts, punctures or untreated injuries in various stages of healing
Laboratory findings of medication overdose or under- utilization of prescribed drugs
An elder’s report of being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated
An elder’s sudden change in behavior
The caregiver’s refusal to allow visitors to see elder alone

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is classified as any sexual act performed with an elderly individual who does not consent to the act or who is incapable of giving consent to sexual acts. Sexual acts can include unwanted touching, rape, sodomy, coerced nudity, or sexually explicit photography.⁶

Although the elderly population still is very involved in sexual activities, as sex is a natural part of human life, we must ensure these acts are consensual for all parties involved. Signs of sexual abuse that warrant further investigation include⁶:

Bruises in various stages around the breasts or genital area
Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
Unexplained genital infections or venereal disease
Torn, stained, or bloody underwear
An elder’s report of being sexually raped or assaulted

Emotional/Psychological Abuse

Emotional or psychological abuse is “the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts,” including constant harassment, verbal assaults, threats of harm or restraint, intimidation, and humiliation. Furthermore, isolating an elderly individual from others also classifies as emotional abuse, as social interaction is one of the most basic human needs.⁶

We may mistake “simple arguments” or disagreements as innocent in nature, but they could be signs of a much larger problem. Regardless of the amount of abuse, any act listed above can cause severe emotional harm and distress. Signs that one may suffer from psychological abuse include:

Being extremely withdrawn and non-communicative or non-responsive
Being emotionally agitated and upset
Unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia, like sucking, biting or rocking
An elder’s report of being mistreated.

Neglect

Neglect is a major problem with the frail and elderly, due to older individuals often needing more care and assistance. As people age, they become less able to do activities of daily living independently, and their actions become much slower. The decline in the ability to function independently can lead their caretakers to neglect the elderly. Neglect is “the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elder,” including refusing to provide basic necessities.6 These necessities are things Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs defines as physiological and most important, including food, water, and shelter. Neglect also involves not providing necessary medications to an elderly individual under one’s care, which can be detrimental to their health.

Signs and symptoms of neglect include:6

Dehydration, malnutrition, untreated bed sores or poor personal hygiene
Unattended or untreated health problems
Hazardous or unsafe living condition/arrangements like improper wiring, no heat or no running water
Unsanitary and unclean living conditions like dirt, fleas, lice on person, soiled bedding, fecal/urine smell or inadequate clothing
An elder’s report of being mistreated

Abandonment

Abandonment is when someone who has responsibility for an elderly individual leaves them. Abandonment can happen when the elderly individual is deserted at a facility, and it could put the elderly individual at risk. Abandoned elders may be confused, unable to call for assistance, or without left without money or a phone.

If you see an elderly individual left alone, it is your responsibility to ensure they are unharmed and have the care they need. You should suspect abandonment if⁶:

The elder has been deserted at a hospital, a nursing facility, or other similar institution
The elder has been left at a shopping center or other public location
An elder’s report of being abandoned

Financial Abuse

Financial exploitation includes “illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.⁶” Examples of financial abuse are when someone cashes an elderly person’s check without their permission, forges their signature on financial forms or checks, steals money or valuable possessions, or coerces them into signing contracts or wills.⁶

As many elderly individuals do not work and may be living off of retirement funds, Social Security, or personal savings, being fiscally responsible is exceedingly important. At times, this responsibility is given to those who care for the elderly, which puts the elderly at risk for exploitation and mismanagement of funds. Signs and symptoms of financial or material exploitation include⁶:

Unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family
Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions
Unauthorized withdrawal of the elder’s funds using the elder’s ATM card
Sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by a person accompanying the elder
An elder’s report of financial exploitation
Substandard care being provided or bill unpaid despite the availability of adequate financial resources
Discovery of an elder’s signature being forged for financial transactions or the titles of his possessions
The inclusion of additional names on an elder’s bank signature card
Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming their rights to an elder’s affairs and possessions
The provision of services that are not necessary

Who is the abuser?

As our elder population increases, more family members become caregivers and more healthcare workers are required to care for aging individuals. As with all cases of abuse, the reasons for elder abuse are complex. However, there are some special considerations in elder abuse.

Caring for frail elders can be a difficult and stressful job. If an elderly individual is mentally or physically impaired, they will likely be more dependent on their caregiver. Dependence on others is sometimes a contributing factor to elder abuse, and those who are dependent on others may be unable to report that they are being abused. Examples include those who are physically or mentally impaired. Furthermore, if the caregiver is unable to perform certain tasks for the elderly due to physical or financial constraints, they may become frustrated and more likely to abuse. Lastly, if the resources necessary to provide care are unavailable, this may lead caregivers to be unable to provide basic needs, which can also lead to increased stress.

Those who are in poor health are more likely to be abused than those in good health, possibly due to the increased dependence on others. Abuse tends to occur when the stress level of the caregiver is increased because of a worsening of the elder’s impairment.

The abuser is a family member in almost all the abuse cases in which the perpetrator is known.² In fact, the abuser is typically a child or spouse. Also, substance abuse is the most frequently cited risk factor associated with elder abuse.

What is self-neglect?

The Iowa Department of Human services has determined that vulnerable adults such as senior citizens, who neglect themselves, are unwilling or unable to do needed self-care suffer from self- neglect.¹⁹ Included in self-neglect are things such as¹⁹:

Not eating enough food to the point of malnourishment
Wearing clothes that are filthy, torn, or not suited for the weather
Living in filthy, unsanitary, or hazardous conditions
Not getting needed medical care

Common characteristics of people who neglect themselves are the following⁷:

Live alone
Women (possibly because more women than men live alone)
Depressed and/or increasingly confused
Frail and elderly
Alcohol and drug problems.
History of poor personal hygiene or living conditions

Signs to look for in the home and on the person include the following⁷:

The Home

Not enough food, water, heat
Filth or bad odors, hazardous, unsafe, or unclean living conditions
Major repairs are needed and not done
Human or animal feces
Hoarding: nothing is thrown away, stacks of papers, magazines
Animal or insect infestation

The Person⁷:

Poor personal hygiene (dirty hair, nails, skin)
Smells of feces or urine
Unclothed, or improperly dressed for the weather.
Skin rashes or bed sores (pressure ulcers)
Dehydrated, malnourished or weight loss
Absence of needed dentures, eyeglasses, hearing aids, walkers, wheelchairs, braces, or a commode
Increased dementia, confusion, disorientation
Unexpected or unexplained worsening of health or living conditions
Spending too much time alone or isolated from former activities
Lack of interest or concern about life
Untreated medical conditions
Self-destructive behaviors or significant behavior changes
Hallucinations and delusions
Misusing drugs or alcohol

Self-neglect does not include a mentally competent older individual who voluntarily participates in unsafe acts. Mentally competent individuals understand the potential ramifications of their actions, but they choose to continue participating in them regardless.⁸

Social support by family, friends, members of the community, and healthcare providers is extremely important in helping vulnerable adults to remain safe.

Family and friends can assist by⁷:

Helping the adult to reduce isolation as much as possible. Community services such as visiting on a regular basis, regular telephone calls, and volunteer driving to events, church or shopping
Learning the signs and symptoms to look for
Staying in contact with the adult
Listening to and talking to the adult on a regular basis. Showing concern and helping them to find solutions. Help the person to consider options and to make his own choices
Helping the person accept help from others and to get services needed
Getting others involved by contacting faith-based volunteer groups or other volunteer groups to help with unmet needs
Getting help from Adult Protective Services if an adult is showing signs of self-neglect
Allowing the adult to have control of his destiny remembering if he/she chooses to be neglectful he has the right to do so if he is competent.

Neighbors can help by⁷:

Staying alert and aware of changes that might indicate a problem with an aging neighbor.
Noting signs of changes in well-loved animals once well cared for and now losing weight and neglected.
Noting whether newspapers are piling up on the porch and if there is a change in routine.
When concerned, neighbors can knock on his/her door and check to see if they need help.
They can listen and offer support and call Adult Protection Services if concerned about self-neglect.
911 can be called if the person needs immediate medical help and is in danger of harm.

Public Service Providers can⁷:

Stay alert to any changed that may indicate a problem with an aging customer. They may see mail or newspapers piling up.
They may note a significant, negative change in the personality of the elder adult.
It may be necessary for the service provider to knock on the elder’s door to evaluate whether help and assistance are needed.

Working together, community members can help our elders remain safe and live fruitful lives.

What is institutional abuse?

As the “baby boomer” generation reaches retirement age and improved healthcare allows Americans to live longer, the difficult questions of who will care for our elderly citizens and how they will afford the cost of such care have challenged our society.

Consequently, many elderly Americans who can no longer care for themselves are relying on nursing homes, community living centers, and other long-term care facilities on providing such care. Depending on the level of care required, these institutions can range from an assisted living environment to full nursing home care.

Institutional abuse is abuse found at a facility or organization that provides elder care. These include assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, community living centers, rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes. Mistreatment can include any of the previously mentioned types of abuse.

Frequent abuse seen in an institutional setting is the misuse of chemical or physical restraints. Misuse means that restraints are used beyond what the physician ordered or is not within accepted medical practice. Examples are staff failing to loosen the restraints within adequate time frames or attempting to cope with a resident’s behavior by inappropriate use of drugs.⁹ This can lead to wounds in areas that restraints have been placed and eventually, if not treated, to infections and even death.

Factors external to the facility that may lead to abuse are the supply and demand of facility beds and the unemployment rate. A surplus of beds may cause patients to be accepted without adequate assessment, resulting in misplacement. A shortage of beds may force patients into facilities with reputations for poor care. Unemployment rates and pay rates affect the staffing levels.⁹

Nursing homes oriented toward custodial care often experience more abusive situations. Other environmental factors that may affect abuse include the physical design of the building, the level of care, size, cost of care, staff-to-patient ratio, and the turnover rate of both patients and staff.¹⁰

As in the domestic setting, patients who are mentally or physically incapacitated are more likely to be the victims of abuse. Additionally, patients who lack regular visitors who can watch for abusive situations are more likely to be victimized.¹⁰

Long-term care for the elderly is typically extremely expensive (well over $5,000 per month in many places), the vast majority of residents go through most, if not all, of their assets in a matter of months and then become eligible for federal Medicaid benefits. This process is known as “spending down.” The cost of over 90% of nursing home residents is paid by Medicaid. Consequently, almost all nursing home facilities receive Medicaid funds.

Facilities accepting Medicare or Medicaid funds must abide by government regulations setting minimum standards for the care of residents in such facilities. Many of these regulations are promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS regulations set guidelines for the evaluation, care and treatment of residents, aimed at maximizing the quality of each resident’s daily life and minimizing abuse and neglect.

Many of the institutions that provide long-term care for the elderly are owned by for-profit corporations. In an effort to maximize profits, a lot of institutions have cut back on staff or hired less qualified workers for lower salaries to decrease costs. Often, elderly and or disabled residents of long-term care facilities are not getting the attention they require and must compete with dozens of other residents for the attention of too few staff. Thus, residents who require assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) such as feeding, bathing, toileting, and walking, are not receiving adequate care.

Most often in the institutional setting, the typical abusers are nursing aides. These are often the lowest paid and most uneducated positions in healthcare facilities. This neglect can lead to disastrous consequences. Residents can suffer from debilitating falls, the development of painful and immobilizing decubitus ulcers, malnutrition and sometimes death. Typically, the staff member is a male, young, and often lacks experience. He may be poorly educated and suffers from job burnout, leading to a loss of concern for the patients.⁹

Special Provisions for Institutional Abuse

As our elderly population continues to grow, states are better attempting to address institutional abuse by healthcare workers. Various authority figures, such as The Department of Human Services and the Department of Inspection and Appeals are allowed to investigate reports of abuse or neglect in nursing homes or other elderly care facilities. Based on the findings, the institution in question may have their permits or licenses revoked, suspended, or denied. This is of one of the many ways that states are attempting to strengthen laws and regulations surrounding how the elderly population is treated within facilities.

Aside from patient or family members, workers are also one of the ways that complaints may be received about poor care within a facility. To help motivate employees to report concerns within their work environments, states are enacting provisions that protect the employees from retaliation.

In addition to investigations by authorities, Ombudsman programs have been established in each state. The purpose of these programs is to advocate for elderly patients in long-term care facilities, as well as to attempt to change laws so that elderly patients are better cared for.¹¹

In an effort to help decrease the amount of convicted elder abuse offenders hired into healthcare roles, certain states have registries to alert potential employers of these prior offenses. When used correctly prior to employment, similarly to a background check, these registries help ensure facilities do not risk the safety of their patients by hiring someone who is known to abuse elderly individuals. For example, Missouri has an Employee Disqualification List (EDL), which includes individuals who have abused or neglected patients, exploited patients through mismanagement of their funds or property, or falsified documentation.¹² According to Washington State Legislature, Washington also approved a similar bill in 2011 in which all long-term care facility employees must undergo a criminal background check, including one with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, to ensure no unfit employees are hired to work with the aging population. They also determined the need to begin a registry in which all workers found guilty of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly individuals would be listed.¹³

Unfortunately, depending on the setting, not all healthcare organizations require background checks on their employees. Because of the increase in chronic disease and the need for home health management, many elderly individuals who live independently, or within assisted living areas, see home health agents on a frequent basis. These healthcare organizations create an area for potential elder abuse, as these patients are often alone with their providers, and abuse may be less likely to be noticed by others or reported. According to the Office of Inspector General in 2014, ten states did not require background checks for their Home Health Agency employees.¹⁴ Of the remaining states which do require background checks, only seventeen required both in-state and FBI background checks.¹⁴ An additional concern is that certain employers in all areas of healthcare allow employees to start working while their background check is pending placing the elderly patients at increased risk for harm until the background check is completed and reviewed.

A lot of states have passed residents' bills of rights which prohibit mental and physical abuse of patients and encourage the filing of grievances or complaints by or on behalf of the resident. Some states also authorize the commencement of a civil action for the violation of a resident's rights.

A successful plaintiff may be awarded punitive damages when the respondent's conduct was a malicious, willful disregard of the older patient's rights.

Is Elder Abuse Illegal?

In an effort to deter crimes against elderly victims and to express society's abhorrence toward such offenses, many state legislatures have created special offenses involving crimes against the elderly. All 50 states have passed some form of elder abuse prevention laws. Laws and definitions vary from state to state, but all states have reporting systems. According to the Code of Iowa, suspected abuse should be reported to the Department of Human Services. The rights and services available to all crime victims by statute, legislators at both the federal and state levels have enacted laws that provide special protections and privileges to elderly victims of crime. Much of this legislation simply modifies or extends existing general victims' rights legislation to address the special needs of older victims.

Numerous accounts of maltreatment led policymakers to pass a series of laws intended to protect the elderly victim. The passage of the Federal Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA), and the creation of the Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Program 42 U.S.C. '' 3058, et seq. in 1992 were instrumental in promoting state laws to address the needs and concerns of the elderly.

The Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Program legislation promoted the following¹⁵:

Advocacy efforts through ombudsmen offices
Abuse, neglect and exploitation prevention programs
Legal assistance on behalf of older Americans
Federal funding incentives which made it possible for states to develop and maintain programs designed to assist the elderly

State elder abuse laws are patterned after legislation designed to address the problem of child abuse and neglect, and, like the response to child maltreatment, often involve the combined efforts of both criminal justice officials and social services staff.¹⁵

Criminal Dependent Adult Abuse Laws

Iowa Code section 235B.3 requires all of the following people to report suspected abuse¹⁹:

A member of the staff of a community mental health center
An in-home homemaker-home health aide
A health care practitioner
A social worker
A certified psychologist
An individual employed as an outreach person

In some states, elder abuse laws are incorporated into assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault statutes, and a sentencing enhancement imposed if the victim is over a specified age. Illinois uses a combination approach, enacting separate crimes for aggravated battery of a senior citizen and criminal neglect or financial exploitation of an elderly person, but including the age of the victim as a special classification under its aggravated criminal sexual assault and abuse laws.¹⁵

Every state has a long-term care ombudsman program to investigate and resolve nursing home complaints. State Attorney General’s Office is required by Federal law to have a Medicare Fraud Control Unit to investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect in health care programs which participate in Medicaid, including home health care services.⁶

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the first major revision of the Federal standards for nursing home care since the 1965 creation of both Medicare and Medicaid 42 U.S.C1396r,42 U.S.C. 1395i-3,42 CFR 483. This legislation changed society’s legal expectations of nursing homes and their care. Long term care facilities wanting Medicare or Medicaid funding are to provide services so that each resident can “attain and maintain her highest practicable physical, mental, and psycho-social well-being.

Most physical, sexual, and financial/material abuses are considered crimes in all states. However, elder abuse may or may not be a crime, depending on the statutes of a given state. Self- neglect is not a crime in all states.⁶

The Department of Human Services and the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) can be a part of a community’s involvement in aiding a self-neglecting vulnerable adult. Once self-neglect is the individual needing help has to give their consent for help. If an individual refuses assistance, then there is a balance between a person's right to independence versus his safety and well-being. Family, friends and service providers can work together to help this individual. It is vital that everyone stay involved and support the vulnerable adult as much as possible.

Where do you report elder abuse in Iowa?

A majority of states now require certain classes of professionals to report suspected abuse and neglect. According to the Code of Iowa, any person who believes that a dependent adult has suffered abuse should report the suspected abuse to the Department of Human Services.¹⁹ The Department of Inspections & Appeals (DIA) consider all staff of licensed facilities and programs in Iowa as mandatory reporters, regardless of their job duties.¹⁹

If you suspect abuse in Iowa, whether it be from a licensed healthcare facility, elder group home, assisted living or adult day care services program, report the suspected abuse to DIA by one of the following:

Telephone: 1-877-686-0027
Fax report: 515-281-7106
Email: Webmaster@dia.iowa.gov
Mail report: Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals
- Health Facilities Division/Compliant Unit
- Lucas State Office Building
- 312 st 12^th street

Some states have established 24-hour hotlines to make help possible. While most statutes establish penalties for those who fail to report, many also provide immunity from civil suits or prosecution to those who make reports in "good faith" -- even if those reports cannot be substantiated, to encourage further reporting of suspected abuse.

Laws have helped to increase the reporting of elder abuse -- up 150 percent from 1986 to 1996 -- it is still widely believed to be underreported.⁶

The Adult Protective Services (APS) is the principal public agency responsible for both investigating reported cases of elder abuse and for providing victims and their families with treatment and protective services... An APS is usually located within the Human Service Agency as part of the county departments of social services. Many other public and private organizations are actively involved in efforts to protect vulnerable older persons from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

These agencies include:

The state agency on aging
The law enforcement agencies
The police department
The district attorney’s office
The court system
The sheriff’s department
The medical examiner/coroner’s office
Hospitals and medical clinics
The state long-term care Ombudsman’s office
The public health agency
The area agency on aging
The mental health agency
The facility licensing/certification agency

The power each agency has is dependent upon the state law enacted to protect elders. There is an internet site to find local reporting agencies. Use the Eldercare Locator at www.eldercare.gov or call 1-800-677-1116. The National Council for Aging Care's guide on Elder Abuse is available at http://www.aginginplace.org/guide-to-recognizing-elder-abuse.

Nationwide training programs to increase public awareness and better prepare those required by law to report have been implemented to further promote reporting of elder abuse in California, Florida, and Mississippi

Many states have prevention activities which include:

Professional training workshops for adult protective services personnel and other professional groups; statewide conferences open to all service providers with interest in elder abuse; and development of training manuals, videos, and other materials.
Coordination among state service systems and service providers; creation of elder abuse hotlines for reporting; formation of statewide coalitions and task forces; and the creation of local multi-disciplinary teams, coalitions and task forces.
Technical assistance in the development of policy manuals and protocols that outline proper and preferred procedures.
Development of elder abuse prevention education campaigns for the public, including media public service announcements, flyers, posters, and videos.

The Administration on Aging is a federal agency dedicated to policy development, planning, and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to elders and caregivers. This agency provides critical information, assistance and programs that protect the rights of vulnerable, at-risk older individuals, through the national aging network. The administration does not have oversight responsibility for APS.⁵

What happens after you report elder abuse?

All calls to the Department of Human Services are confidential. The DIA screens calls for seriousness and decide if the situation is a possible violation of state elder abuse laws. If so, the DIA assigns a caseworker to investigate, usually within 24 hours if it is an emergency. Crisis intervention services are utilized as warranted. If it is not an emergency, the DIA agencies work with other community agencies to obtain social and health services that the older person needs.

Most states empower both social service and law enforcement agencies to investigate reports, intervene, and even remove elderly victims from abusive circumstances. In some jurisdictions, multidisciplinary teams are being used -- combining the knowledge of medical, mental health, social service, legal, and law enforcement professionals to better evaluate an elderly victim's needs. Appropriate protective services can then be offered to elder abuse victims. In some states, such as Colorado, a restraining order may be imposed to prohibit further emotional abuse of an elderly victim.

Iowa has established multidisciplinary teams to assist in assessing the needs of, formulating and monitoring a treatment plan for, and coordinating services to victims of dependent adult abuse.²⁰

The prevention program is designed to: collect data on the problems of elderly abuse, neglect and criminal victimization; engage in prevention activities through presentations at churches, community centers, schools, and senior citizen centers; conduct workshops for government employees and police, as well as for the elderly and their families; and implement an advocacy program to assist victims in responding to and recovering from abuse, neglect and criminal victimization. This program's research findings will provide the basis for the development of stronger assistance and prevention initiatives designed specifically to aid elderly victims.¹⁵

Special Classification under General Crime

Special classifications for elderly victims are often included in a state's robbery, assault, battery, murder, and even carjacking statutes. A few states, such as Iowa and Oregon, have chosen to include age as a hate violence characteristic. States are also starting to address telemarketing schemes and consumer fraud crimes which often seem to target especially vulnerable victims, including the elderly.⁶

Sentencing Enhancements

Other states impose sentencing enhancements -- increased penalties -- when the victim is elderly. In Nevada, an offender who commits a crime against a person over the age of 60 is subject to a prison term twice as long as that normally allowed for the same offense. A Louisiana law mandates that all violent crimes against the elderly be punished by a minimum of five years’ imprisonment with no opportunity for parole. Georgia imposes an enhanced penalty for unfair or deceptive business practices directed toward the elderly. A number of states consider the victim's advanced age to be an aggravating factor to be considered when determining a sentence.⁶

What is the role of healthcare professionals?

Healthcare professional often are the first to see signs and symptoms of elder abuse and neglect. Their observations are crucial in substantiating that abuse and or neglect has been occurring. They are in a key position to help because of the trust and respect the patients often have for their healthcare providers.

Healthcare professionals evaluating patients for elder abuse will note the following:

Somatic signs and symptoms of abuse.
Question the plausibility of explanations given for common injuries and conditions.
Provide expert testimony on what was seen.
Treat injuries or health factors that result from abuse.
Perform abuse screenings
Encourage clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, or other medical providers to develop or adopt protocols for screening and responding to abuse and to learn more about Elder Abuse.

Healthcare professionals should document all subjective and objective findings including the patient’s and caregiver’s explanations of the injuries. Quotation marks should be placed around their remarks and note any discrepancies in their stories. They should photograph injuries and document injury sites on a body map.¹⁹

Conclusion

As a society, we all must take responsibility in protecting our aging population by actively sharing our knowledge, experience, and resources which will help keep our elders safe and productive. We must all help our political representatives to understand the needs of our aging population and the funds required. At times, we must assist them in developing laws to prevent elder abuse.

Implicit Bias Statement

CEUFast, Inc. is committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). While reflecting on this course content, CEUFast, Inc. would like you to consider your individual perspective and question your own biases. Remember, implicit bias is a form of bias that impacts our practice as healthcare professionals. Implicit bias occurs when we have automatic prejudices, judgments, and/or a general attitude towards a person or a group of people based on associated stereotypes we have formed over time. These automatic thoughts occur without our conscious knowledge and without our intentional desire to discriminate. The concern with implicit bias is that this can impact our actions and decisions with our workplace leadership, colleagues, and even our patients. While it is our universal goal to treat everyone equally, our implicit biases can influence our interactions, assessments, communication, prioritization, and decision-making concerning patients, which can ultimately adversely impact health outcomes. It is important to keep this in mind in order to intentionally work to self-identify our own risk areas where our implicit biases might influence our behaviors. Together, we can cease perpetuating stereotypes and remind each other to remain mindful to help avoid reacting according to biases that are contrary to our conscious beliefs and values.

References

1. Sewell, D. Aging America: Elder abuse on the rise. NBC News. Published January 27, 2013. Accessed May 30, 2016 (Visit Source).

2. National Council on Aging. Elder Abuse Fact Sheet. Published March 2009. Revised March 30, 2010. Accessed May 3, 2016 (Visit Source).

3. National Council on Aging. Elder Abuse Facts. Published February 25, 2015. Accessed March 30, 2016 (Visit Source).

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Elder Abuse Prevention. Revised June 14, 2016. Accessed July 10, 2016 (Visit Source).

5. Administration for Community Living. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15. Updated 7/25/2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016 (Visit Source).

6. National Center on Elder Abuse. Risk Factors for Elder Abuse Published 2015. Accessed September 5, 2016 (Visit Source).

7. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Aging and Long-Term Support Administration Accessed September 6, 2012 (Visit Source).

8. McNamee, C., & Murphy, M. Elder Abuse in the United States. National Institute of Justice. 2006; 255.

9. Acierno, Ron; Melba Hernandez-Tejada; Wendy Muzzy, and Kenneth Steve. National elder mistreatment study. Published March, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2012 (Visit Source).

10. National Legal Resource Center. Elder Justice Act. Accessed November 15, 2016 (Visit Source).

11. Administration on Aging (AoA). What is Elder Abuse? Revised July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016 (Visit Source).

12. Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. Employee Disqualification List. (n.d.). Accessed September 06, 2016 (Visit Source).

13. Washington State Legislature. RCW 74.39A.056: Criminal history checks on long-term care workers. Published 2012. Accessed September 10, 2016 (Visit Source).

14. Office of Inspector General. State Requirements for Conducting Background Checks on Home Health Agency Employees. Published May 29, 2014. Accessed August 5, 2016 (Visit Source).

15. New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault. Factsheet: Elder Abuse and the Law. Published 1999. Accessed Novemeber 10, 2016 (Visit Source).

16. Mass Code ‘273-20 Retrieved September 5, 2012 from statues.laws.com

17. North Carolina code ’14-3261 Retrieved September 5, 2012 from statues.laws.com

18. Gray-Vickrey, P. (1999). Recognizing Elder Abuse, Springhouse Corporation. Massachusetts Code ' 273-20; North Carolina Code ' 14-326.1. Retrieved September 5, 2012 from (Visit Source).

19. RN. Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse. rn.com. Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse. Retrieved from RN.com 01/02/2016 from (Visit Source). Accessed January 7,2017

20. Dependent Adult Abuse Services (2016) Available at (Visit Source). Accessed: 12 January 2017.

Additional Sources:

Bonnie, Richard, and Robert Wallace, Elder mistreatment, abuse, neglect and exploitation in an aging America. Retrieved September 5, 2012 from (Visit Source) 2003.

California Nursing Homes: Federal and State Oversight Inadequate to Protect Residents in Homes with Serious Care Violations, Op. Gen. Accounting Off. /T-HEHS98-219 (July 28, 1998).

Environmental Protection Agency’s Aging Initiative, “Aging Initiative Home”, Retrieved September 6, 2012 from (Visit Source).

Florida Code ' 400.023. Retrieved September 6, 2012 from (Visit Source).

National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, “Financial Abuse,” (Visit Source).

Tennessee Alliance: Factsheets: Elder Abuse and the Law. Retrieved September 6, 2012 from (Visit Source).

The Elder Justice Coalition. “One Year Anniversary of the Elder Justice Act”. Retrieved September 6, 2012 from (Visit Source).

The Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) Retrieved. September 6, 2012 from (Visit Source).

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