OK. I admit that we don’t have much in the way of:
- Great data
- Great systems
- Tested interventions
On the other hand, here’s what we DO have:
- A growing community of caring professionals from a variety of backgrounds who
are working every day on behalf of elders
- A growing community of older adults and their loved ones who are “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore” (thank you, Howard Beale) (Network, 1976. Look it up, youngsters!)
- A growing body of evidence related to risk factors and associated factors
- Common sense
- The seed of a vision for our world to be free from elder abuse
So what’s it going to take? Can we really prevent abuse and neglect? What if
each of us behaves just a little bit differently and prevents one older adult from being abused each year? Unified in this goal, we can prevent tens of thousands of elder abuse cases in one year alone. Here’s how I’m going to behave just a little bit differently: I will ask at least two patients a week about the risk of abuse in their home. I’ll ask if there is a history of family violence, if they feel threatened or afraid of someone, if someone is using
their money without their permission, and if there’s something I can do to help them feel safer.
What are some other ways to adjust our behaviors and prevent elder abuse and neglect?
- Befriend an elder to decrease social isolation and vulnerability
- Check in with an elderly neighbor you haven’t seen in awhile
- Check in with yourself to see if you’re feeling overwhelmed and blue and are worried you might take it out on an older adult you love. Ask for
help.
- Take the extra minute (or two or ten or sixty) to listen to an elder in a way that conveys compassion and willingness to hear their story
- Keep at it! Don’t give up out of frustration; righteous persistence wins the day.
Yes, indeed, I’m hopeful because I believe we can prevent elder abuse and neglect. I’ve made my pledge to work harder toward this goal. Will you join me?
Resources:
National Center on
Elder Abuse
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Tools and Tips
Ageless Alliance United Against Elder Abuse
