Elder Abusers – Society’s Dilemma
By Andrew Chadwick
How should society deals with proven elder abusers?
Let us first look at some definition and types of elder abuse.
What is elder abuse and neglect?
Elder Abuse and Neglect is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust,which causes harm or distress to an older person. It can be of various forms:
physical, psychological/emotional, sexual, or financial/material abuse, and/or intentional or unintentional neglect.
( Definition from Toronto Declaration on the Global Prevention of Elder Abuse, 2002)
How should we deal with elder abusers?
If a respectable member of a community has been found, through irrefutable evidence, to be an elder abuser; can we then excuse the person because he/she is an excellent judge, lawyer, doctor psychologist, managers etc?
Or, are we to discount the ‘irrefutable evidence’ as ‘false’ because we just cannot accept that such a person is capable of doing the unthinkable ‘crime’?
These questions are posed because it seems that many elder abuse cases, especially those that did not hit the headlines of major media outlets, are ignored; for the the following reasons:
· that the elder abusers are holding respectable jobs!
· Disbelief: “They couldn’t have done that.” I know the person well.
· It’s just family dynamics.
We should really ask ourselves that question again.
Are we to excuse or ignore elder abusers because of their positions in society?
Clever Elder Abusers Do Not Leave Evidence.
They abuse their elderly parent(s) or close family members, in such a way that the are no obvious signs of the abuse. How do we detect emotional, psychological abuse and neglect?
How do we deal with elder abuse cases where by the inaction of the abusers, the victims suffered distress and mental anguish for a lengthy period of time. (e.g. the Frank Punito Case)
Then again, even if there were clear evidence; the victim of this kind of elder abuse often remain in the abusive situations, because:
They are ashamed that their “own flesh and blood” could do that to them.
The victims are afraid to speak up because they are afraid that it might give the abusers an excuse to put them in a nursing home.
They are afraid that they will lose all contact with the abuser, a close family member.
Even if they reported the abuse, what can we do?
Society went through similar "soul searching" period, many years ago. Now, there are definitive actions taken, if a child abuse case comes to light.
With Elder Abuse, however, we still cannot agree on how the more insidious elder abusers should be treated. Many just do not want to even acknowledge the problems.
However, the 'head-in-the-sand' approach is not acceptable.
My own view on this is that; when human rights are violated, the abusers must be called to bare the responsibility and some consequences.
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The questions posed in this posting are truly difficult to address. Hopefully, something can be worked out in the near future.
I intend to post some cases that did not 'hit the headlines', but are just as disturbing.
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