Respect for older people
by Jim Clarke of irishhealth.com
Elder Abuse is the hidden shame of Ireland's caring industry. The exact incidence and extent of the phenomenon is unknown and probably unknowable. Many factors stand in the way of proper reporting of the abuse, as the victims are often unable to formulate clearly the abuse that they are suffering, or because they fear estrangement from those who are caring for them.
Dr Des O'Neill is a consultant geriatric physician at Tallaght Hospital who leads the national Age-Related Healthcare Project. He is also a member of the Department of Health's working group on the issue of elder abuse. He believes that incidents of elder abuse are both under-reported and under-acknowledged in this country.
"There has been almost no research into elder abuse in Ireland, but we have no reason to think that the extent of the problem here is any different to anywhere else", he explains. "Research elsewhere has shown that between 3% and 5% of older people experience regular abuse in some form".
Whistle blowing
Britain, however, has not been as cautious in confronting this secret shame. In the UK, a 'No Secrets' policy was launched two years ago to combat the level of domestic and institutional abuse of older people. One of the controversial aspects of the programme was the introduction of a legal requirement on healthcare workers to report any suspected incidents of abuse - the so-called 'whistle blowing' clause.
Respect
Older people deserve to be treated with the respect that their lives and achievements as people warrant. For that reason, it is crucial that those who live, work or socialise with the elderly maintain vigilance on the issue of abuse. Legislation may be necessary and will likely follow the recommendations to be made in the Department of Health working group's report.
The most important change to be made, however, is in the hearts and minds of society in general. While we think of older people as burdens on the taxpayer, on the health system and on those in caring positions, we diminish their status as human beings and leave the door open for abuse to happen.
If older people are again given the respect as elders of the community that they once had, elder abuse itself might begin to be a thing of the past.
Abridged
SOURCE: irishHealth
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