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Older adults can experience several different kinds of harm from people they rely on or trust. Abuse and neglect in later life can affect an older adult's health, happiness and safety.
Approximately one in 12 or 46,000 older adults in British Columbia will experience abuse or neglect in later life. Abuse of older adults can occur at home, in the community, or in institutional settings. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, financial, sexual, spiritual or social. Some forms of abuse and neglect violate the older adult's basic rights, and several types are crimes.
Older women are more likely to be victims of family violence than older men. Two out of every three victims of abuse in later life are women.
Both men and women can be abusive or neglectful. However, in approximately two thirds of the abuse cases that come to the attention of community agencies, the abusers are men. Eighty per cent of those accused of violently harming an older family member are men.
In most cases, older women usually experience abuse or neglect from their spouse, partner or her adult children.
For older men, the abuse or neglect is most likely to come from his adult children or close friends.
Although older adults may experience harm from strangers, this is much less common.
Women are more likely than men to experience abuse in their younger years that may continue into later life. The effects of many years of abuse can be hard on a person's health.
For many older men, their first experience with abuse or neglect may occur in later life. It may begin after the man has developed a disabling condition and is relying on others for help.
Abuse hurts both older men and older women. However, they may face different risks and may be affected in different ways.
Because an older woman may
have fewer resources, she may be reluctant to leave the abusive relationship.
Abuse and neglect significantly affect older adults emotionally and physically. Both older women and older men may feel shocked, embarrassed, guilty, or ashamed that someone they trust is hurting or taking advantage of them.
A woman may be concerned about how it reflects on her as a mother or grandmother. A man experiencing abuse may hesitate telling anyone if he feels it will reflect badly on him.
Financial abuse is the most common form of abuse that older adults are likely to face. It may affect older women and older men in important ways.
Women may often have fewer financial resources to begin with and they tend to live longer than older men do. This means that if women lose income or assets through financial abuse, it will probably affect them significantly and longer.
In helping an older person who is experiencing abuse or neglect, it is important to understand their situation and how they feel. It is important to understand why abused older adults stay or "put up with abuse". Be aware of any stereotypes or assumptions you may have about older adults, families, or diverse cultures. Recognize circumstances that may contribute to older adults not seeking the help they need.
If you discover a crime or dangerous situation is occurring to an older adult, call the police or 911 immediately. If you are not sure if an older person is being abused or neglected and you want to talk to a health professional, you can call the BC NurseLine 24 hours a day for information and advice.
For resources available in your community, contact the Home and Community Care Office in your local health authority, or contact the B.C. Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors at 604-437-1940 or at www.bcceas.ca.
For more information, see other topics in the BC HealthFiles Elder Abuse Prevention Series.
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