Elder Abuse Essay

older call out is a horrible problem during peoples sundown years, they should relax and be comfortable, not induce to worry about debauch from family members and c atomic number 18givers. However, the issue of people abusing the vulnerable of age(p) is a growing wholeness in the United States. What causes it? This essay explains a growing scheme that accounts for the causes of sr. abuse. According to Quinn and Tomita (1997), there are five main hypotheses for senior abuse (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). The first is simple power some people simply cin wizness casentrate on on dependency issues (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Others are acting out collectible to the vehemence of acting as a caregiver this is particularly car park in spite of appearance family caregiving settings (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). An another(prenominal) supposition states that elder abuse is simply caused because some individuals have grown up in families that solve problems w ith violence (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Another hypothesis claims that some are related to individual abusers problems, much(prenominal) as substance abuse and depression (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Finally, the last hypothesis states that in some societies, elders have lost their personhood due to greed, lookism, and hatred of the disabled. Most other studies support at least one of these hypotheses. For example, Brandl and Raymond found that the most common cause of elder abuse was caregiver stress, regardless of whether the caregiver was a family member or professional they also emphasize the role of the elderly person an abused child whitethorn abuse their parent once the parent is frail, for example this connects to Quinn and Tomitas hypotheses of violent families and individual abusers problems (Brandl & Raymond, 2012). Nerenberg, too, claims that caregiver stress is the main cause of elder abuse (Nerenberg, 2002).She emphasizes the aspect of the caregiver, p articularly the first-time caregiver, as these individuals are more ilkly to engage in elder abuse (Nerenberg, 2002). Meanwhile, Hawes focuses on professional caregivers abuse of the elderly in long-term care facilities (Hawes, 2003). Hawes does not offer some(prenominal) causes, exclusively hints at them by discussing the get-go pay and high-stress nature of caregiving jobs (Hawes, 2003). Thomason ascribes the causes of elder abuse to a changing society in which people live longer and are ill-prepared for caretaking (Thomason, 2011). He emphasizes the socialcauses of elder abuse, focusing on the need to require everyone aware of the issues related to elder abuse and aging (Thomason, 2011). In contrast, and by focusing on the individual train, Vetere emphasizes caregiver burnout as a major cause of elder abuse (Vetere, 2011). Bronwell addresses the causes of elder abuse only implicitly, but presents data on the low pay and long hours in the caregiving sedulousness and also d iscusses the aspects of burnout and frustration that can cause family-based elder abuse to egest (Brownwell & Podnicks, 2005). In addition to discussing the elderly abusing themselves by failing to engage in self-care, they also offer data that some risk factors mean one is more likely to give-up the ghost an abuser a low level of education, mental retardation (by the caregiver), substance abuse by either the elder or the caregiver, a prior history of violence or psychiatrical issues, and stress (Gorbien & Eisenstein, 2005, p. 282). Gorbien and Eisenstein (2005) proposed five archetypes for abusers of the elderly, which are the overwhelmed, the damage (e.g., mentally or physically), the narcissistic, the bullying, and the sadistic (Gorbien & Eisenstein, 2005, p. 284). In keeping with the overall causes mentioned by Quinn and Tomita, these archetypes offer reasons individuals may ferment to abuse (Quinn & Tomita, 1997). Thus it can be said that a theory for the causation of elde r abuse is that within a context of a society that is poorly equipped to deal with the elderly, and within an individualist, looks-oriented society that discriminates against the disabled, many an(prenominal) people are ashamed or frustrated by their relatives (or clients, in the case of professional caregivers) decline. This feeling of helplessness and disgust, combined with stress and burnout exacerbated due to the poor preparation most family caregivers have, and the long hours and poor pay offered to many professional caregivers creates a context in which abuse is likely.Additional factors, like abuse from the elders themselves (e.g., bitter about losing capacity, holding long grudges against family members, aggression due to cognitive decline such as through Alzheimers) can activate an abusive incident. Moreover, if an individual has any of the characteristics noted by Gorbien and Eisenstein, they may be more likely to abuse. Working towards a theory of elder abuse, one can imagine a flow chart (provided on the following page). First, the background of this abuse occurs against a context of a society fiercely focused on beauty and ableism. Second, if an individual ends upcaring for an elder and they are poorly prepared or compensated, this context intensifies. Third, if an individual is impaired in some way, he or she will quickly become burned out and stressed. Fourth, pre-existing interpersonal factors like abuse are exemplified in elder caregiver situations. Fifth, some personality types (narcissists who want others to value them for their supposed selflessness sociopaths) want to care for elders for their own sick needs. Sixth, if a caregiver has a risk factor such as low IQ, low education, substance abuse, or mental health issues, he or she is more likely to be an abuser. Finally, caregivers suffer burnout, and eventually, when caring for an elder individual, they may engage in a violent incident. This theory is outlined in the flowchart below , which moves from left to right. Major causes are represented by large circles.Works CitedBrandl, B., & Raymond, J. A. (2012). aged twist and the elderly Justice Movement in America. San Francisco, CA American Society on Aging. Brownwell, P., & Podnicks, E. (2005). Long-Overdue for the Critical Issue of older Abuse and Neglect A Global Policy and Practice Perspective. Oxford Oxford University Press. Gorbien, M. J., & Eisenstein, A. R. (2005). Elder Abuse and Neglect An Overview. Philadelphia, PA Elsevier. Hawes, C. (2003). Elder Abuse in residential Long-Term Care Settings What Is Known and What Information Is Needed? Washington, DC bailiwick Academies Press,. Nerenberg, L. (2002). Preventing Elder Abuse by Family Caregivers. Washington, D.C. National Council on Elder Abuse. Quinn, M. J., & Tomita, S. K. (1997). Elder Abuse and Neglect shells, Diagnosis, and Intervention Strategies. New York Springer Publishing Company. Thomason, D. (2011). Addressing The Cause of Elder Abus e A Critical Component to Aging health Policy. Retrieved October 16, 2013, from Kaplan Unviersity Online http//www.kaplanuniversity.edu/public-service/articles/addressing-elder-abuse.aspx Vetere, P. M. (2011). Elder Abuse What Are We Missing? Ottawa The College of Family Physicians of Canada. Woolf, L. M. (1998). Elder Abuse and Neglect. St. Louis, MO Webster University.