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Photo: Michael Pole/CORBIS |
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Speaking of the Unspeakable
We may have heard the term “elder abuse” but assumed that it could never happen to us or our loved ones. Elder abuse applies only to those egregious cases of nursing home neglect that we read about in the headlines, right? Wrong. Elder abuse is a much more complex and far-reaching problem than most of us realize. While it certainly encompasses institutional neglect in nursing homes and other residential care facilities, the great majority of elder abuse cases are domestic, committed by close family members, such as a spouse or adult child. The definitions of and penalties for elder abuse vary from state to state. Physical abuse, such as striking, pushing, or shoving an older person, constitutes elder abuse by any definition, as does any inappropriate sexual contact. But there is also financial abuse, such as misappropriating an elder’s social security checks. Yelling at an elder may constitute verbal or psychological abuse. Failing to give an elder his or her proper medications, and failing to visit an elder to see that his or her basic needs are being met may fall under the definition of neglect or abandonment.
Over half a million cases of elder abuse are reported annually, with an estimated three to four times that number going unreported. According to the most recent statistics compiled by the National Center on Elder Abuse, 10.5 percent of the cases reported each year involve Hispanics. Experts believe that those numbers are on the rise. “Ten years ago, I would have told you that elder abuse wasn’t a serious problem in the Hispanic community. Now, we are seeing more and more of all types of abuse: emotional, sexual, economic, and mental. Things that we always thought were contrary to our culture are growing by leaps and bounds,” says Carmela Lacayo, Ph.D., founder and president of the National Association of Hispanic Elderly, and a member of the AARP Hispanic Council. An even more dire warning comes from Fernando Torres-Gil, Ph.D., dean of academic affairs at the School of Public Policy and Social Work at the University of California, Los Angeles: “When it comes to elder abuse in our community, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.” The traditional makeup of Hispanic families may be a mixed blessing when it comes to the problem of elder abuse. “Data suggest that more Hispanic elderly are cared for by their families than non-Hispanic elderly. While this is wonderful, it can also create problems,” says Alejandro Garcia, Ph.D., professor at the Syracuse University School of Social Work and chairman of the board of the National Hispanic Council on Aging. Explains Garcia, “Hispanics tend to marry young, so it isn’t unusual to be in one’s fifties and be a grandparent. At the same time, we may still be caring for our own parents. Often, we are stretched too thin, and can occasionally ‘lose it’ with the older person. We may yell, because we become annoyed. Or we may ignore the older person, which is also a form of abuse.” Other experts blame the changing times and desire to assimilate for the rise in elder abuse among Hispanics. Says Torres-Gil, “Elder abuse is a manifestation of the pressures falling on Hispanic families today. Traditionally, Hispanics have venerated their elders. But this is changing. Families are under pressure to sustain an income level. Both parents work. We’re starting to see ageism and individualism corrupt our community. Like the rest of the population, we’re becoming influenced by modern, youth-oriented culture that is very materialistic. We want what the other guy has, and are starting to have a ‘me-first’ mentality. That doesn’t bode well for the elders.” Torres-Gil is especially alarmed by financial abuse, a problem he says has come up in his own circle of acquaintances. “It’s becoming common to look to elders for resources. In high-priced areas, such as California, the older person may own a home that has substantial equity. It can become a source of tension, as younger members of the family argue over who is going to inherit what. Many times, the elders will shield the home for Medicaid purposes by putting it in a trust and turn the trust over to their kids. That’s a recipe for disaster,” says Torres-Gil. A particular concern is that cultural and language barriers are preventing Hispanics from getting help when they encounter elder abuse. Most states have an office of Adult Protective Services, whose staff is trained to provide social services, including referrals to legal and medical professionals. But the problems of the Hispanic community are underreported. “Hispanics are private people,” says Garcia. “We don’t talk about personal issues that might bring shame to the family. What we need to do is meet with our elders, and let them know that it is okay if they report elder abuse.” Respite care, which provides a place to take elders so that caregivers can get a break, is another way to tackle the problem. “There are already caregiver support programs for groups with special needs, such as Alzheimer’s. We need such groups in the Hispanic community, sensitive to our culture,” adds Garcia. Attorney and magistrate judge Carlos J. Mendoza believes that the legal system must play a crucial role in combating the elder abuse problem. Mendoza is an AARP board member who also serves as vice president of membership and member services. He has worked tirelessly, on a voluntary basis, to strengthen laws against nursing home abuse and predatory lending. “AARP has offices in every state, and we’re working hard to educate people. The good news is that there is federal legislation in the works,” says Mendoza. That legislation, The Elder Justice Act, is pending before the Senate Finance Committee. Introduced by Sen. John Breaux (D-La), the law would establish a federal Office of Elder Justice, and require stringent background checks for nursing home workers. AARP is part of a coalition of organizations that strongly support the proposed law. Mendoza thinks that the best thing Hispanics can do is plan for the future. “When I was growing up, my grandmother lived with us. That was pretty typical in Hispanic homes. Now, even if we want to care for our elders, we don’t always have the financial resources to do so.” He adds, “We all need to start planning for what we’re going to do with our abuelas. And who is going to take care of us when we need the help? We need to educate everyone in the community, not simply the elders. Otherwise, this issue can tear us up. Down the road, it is going to be a huge problem.” Now find out about 10 warning signs of elder abuse and also some useful sites on this alarming issue. |
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