Diversity/Abuse Dee Matecki EdD,RN

Safe Haven Safe Haven of Pennsylvania, also known as the Newborn Protection Act, was enacted in 2003 and amended in 2014, and it states that any parent may leave a newborn baby in the care of a hospital or with a police officer at a police station without being criminally liable as long as the baby is no older than 28 days and is not harmed.

Abuse Physical Abuse: Is non-accidental, serious physical injury of a child, including beatings, burns, bites, strangulation, or immersion in scalding water resulting in bruises, welts, broken bones, scars, or serious internal injuries. Watch for unexplained bruises, bites, black eyes, broken bones, fading bruises, or other noticeable marks.

Abuse Sexual Abuse: Is sexual contact between a child and an adult or older child for the sexual gratification of the offender. It can include both physical and non-physical contact, and it is always forced. Watch for a child's difficulty in walking or sitting, a refusal to change for gym or participate in physical activity, or demonstration of bizarre, over-sophistication, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior.

Abuse Emotional Abuse: Is a pattern of behavior that attacks a child's emotional development and sense of self-worth. Watch for extremely compliant, passive, aggressive, or demanding behaviors, or inappropriately adult or infantile, delayed physical or emotional development, talk of or attempted suicide.

Abuse Neglect: Is the withholding of or failure to provide a child with the basic necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, attention to hygiene, or supervision needed for optimal physical growth and development. Watch for frequently missed school days, begging or stealing food or money, a lack of needed medical or dental care or glasses, a consistently dirty appearance or severe body odor, or alcohol or drug abuse.

CY47 http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/form/c_137044.pdf

Elder Abuse Elder abuse is the mistreatment or neglect of an elderly person, usually by a relative or other caregiver. At greatest risk are the frail and/or isolated. Elder abuse may include physical violence, threats of assault, verbal abuse, financial exploitation, physical or emotional neglect, or sexual abuse.

Elder Abuse as the population continues to age, the problem not likely to just disappear. 1990 - 4% of the population was 65 or older 2020 - 22% of the population will be 65 or older As baby boomers age, the need for services for abused individuals is likely to increase

Many people believe that elder abuse happens in ( to quote elders) “one of those places” meaning of course, nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities. While some abuse does exist in these facilities, the majority of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, occurs in the home

Elder Abuse Older women who have internalized rigid gender roles may be less willing to talk about their abuse or to seek help from community services. She doesn’t want to “air dirty laundry.” Adult children are often not supportive of change in their parents’ relationship. If the abuse has been hidden from the children for years, they may often refuse to believe it when they are told. In some cases the children have seen the mother suffering the abuse, have become accustomed to it, and resent the sudden rebellion

Who Are The Abusers In 35% of the elder abuse cases in 30 states surveyed, the abuse was perpetrated by the victim’s adult children. The National Aging Resource Center on Elder Abuse estimates the incidence of abuse in domestic settings (not institutions) at approximately 2.5 million cases per year.

Who Abuses? The U.S. has 44 million persons age 60 or older, and 36 million people with disabilities. In the most recent year studied, Adult Protective Services completed 364,512 investigations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving older persons living at home (in private, non-institutional settings). Of these, an estimated 43% were confirmed. In the last decade, the number of domestic elder abuse reports investigated by Adult Protective Services across the nation has increased by more than 150 percent.

Who Abuses? Almost 62% percent of all cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults living at home involve mistreatment by other people and 38% involve self-neglect. Domestic elder abuse is a family problem – almost 90% of abusers were family members. Men were the abusers in over half of elder abuse cases.

Elder Abuse Statewide Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-490-8505 Any person who believes that an older adult is being abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned may call the elder abuse hotline. The hotline is open 24 hours a day.  

Elder Abuse http://www.pcacares.org/services-for-seniors/protective-services/

Bariatric Sensitivity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cP6sQTCWgI

Diversity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx4Ia-jatNQ