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Elder
Abuse
It
is hard to imagine that vulnerable older adults might be taken advantage of
or might not properly care for themselves. However, if it does happen, the
person needs immediate protection and assistance.
Any suspicion of the occurrence of elder
abuse must be reported, according to North Carolina law. North
Carolina law gives each county Department
of Social Services the responsibility to offer services to adults
who are unable to help themselves. The Adult Protective Services
Department of the Department of Social Services handles these Elder
Abuse reports.
Three
areas are defined in North Carolina Elder Abuse law:
- abuse
– the willful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish,
unreasonable confinement, or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of services,
which are necessary to maintain mental and physical health
- neglect
– refers to a disabled/vulnerable/impaired adult who is either living
alone and not able to provide for him/her self the services which are necessary
to maintain his/her mental or physical health (self-neglect) or is not receiving
needed services from his/her caretaker
- exploitation
– the illegal or improper use of a disabled/vulnerable/impaired adult
or his/her resources for another’s profit or advantage
Within
these three areas fall categories of abuse such as:
- Physical
abuse – the use of physical force that may result in bodily
injury, physical pain, or impairment
- Misuse
of restraints – chemical or physical control of an older adult
long-term care facility resident beyond what their physician has ordered
- Sexual
abuse – non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an
older adult and/or sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent
- Emotional
or Psychological abuse – the infliction of anguish, pain,
or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts
- Neglect
– the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations
or duties to an older adult
- Abandonment
– the desertion of an older adult by an individual who has assumed
responsibility for providing care or by a person with physical custody of
the older adult
- Financial
or material exploitation – the illegal or improper use of
an older adult’s funds, property, or assets
- Self-neglect
– characterized as the behavior of an older adult that threatens his/her
own health or safety without the understanding of the consequences of his/her
decisions
How
Can You Help?
The
following is excerpted from an elder abuse brochure developed by the N.C.
Division of Social Services.
Recognizing
abuse is the first step.
You should be concerned about an older or disabled adult who:
- Needs
medical care and is not getting it.
- Has
a change in the way he or she looks. For example, the adult may lose a
lot of weight or lose interest in keeping clean or dressing neatly.
- Has
a change in the way he or she acts. For example, the adult may become
depressed, withdrawn, forgetful, suicidal or violent.
- Does
not have enough food or a safe home.
- Is
not able to cook, eat, bathe, or dress, and there is nobody to help.
- Has
unexplained bruises or other injuries.
- Does
not but necessary things such as food or medicine even though he or she
should have enough money.
- Has
been asked to sign papers without understanding what they mean.
Reporting
suspected occurrences of Elder Abuse is the second
step.
Call your county Department
of Social Services, Adult Protective Services Department. Gather as
much information about the situation as you can (names, addresses, details
of the suspected abuse, age of person(s), people involved, etc.). You don’t
have to give your name when you call, however, if you want to know the results
of your call, contact information will be needed. The Adult Protective Services
representative will evaluate the information that you give and determine
if the situation falls within their authority to investigate.
If
you need contact information for the Adult Protective Services Department
in your county, go the the N.C.
Division of Social Services County referral website and click on the
county where the person needing assistance lives.
If
Adult Protective Services indicates that the referral falls outside of their
limited legal authority, then there is third step to follow.
Reporting
suspected occurrences of Elder Abuse to the appropriate agency
with local jurisdiction is the third step.
Adult Protective Services can only investigate suspected
incidents of Elder Abuse under certain conditions. However, if an incidence
of Elder Abuse is suspected, the older adult still needs assistance right
away.
There
are other agencies that are available to help if Adult Protective
Services cannot. For suspected abuse in Nursing Homes, contact
the Division of Health Service Regulation. For suspected abuse in Adult Care Homes,
contact the local
Department of Social Services in the county where the affected
person lives. Again, collect all the information about the situation
that you can before you call. And, no personal information is
required of a caller unless you would like follow-up information.
If
you suspect elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation - ACT NOW.
You could save a life.
And, it's the law.
More Information on Elder Abuse |
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