1 Crime and Violence: Forces for Good or Evil? Lecture Ten Elderly Abuse: a hidden problem?

2 Definitions Elderly abuse is defined as: ‘ the systematic maltreatment, physical, emotional or financial, of an elderly person by a care giving relative.’ Eastman (1984 Old age abuse - a new perspective. Co-published with Age Concern London, Chapman Hall). Alternatively, Action on Elder Abuse suggest this definition: ‘A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person.’ Action on Elder Abuse, (1995)

3 What forms of violence do the elderly experience? There are a number of ways in which the elderly person might be abused. Action on Elder Abuse identifies the five main types of abuse: 1. Physical 2. Psychological 3. Financial 4. Sexual 5. Neglect Action on Elder Abuse estimates 5% of all older people have been abused.

4 Their helpline received 1,421 calls during two years (between 1997 and 1999) 455 were about the abuse of men while 1,128 calls concerned women. Numbers Percentages Male % Female 1, %

5 Age of victim Male Female Total ,018

6 Brown, H and Stein, J (1998) Implementing adult protection policies in Kent and East Sussex Journal of Social Policy vol.27, issue 3, pp : ‘people over 85 were nearly seven times more likely to be known to be abused than a vulnerable adult of 65-74’.

7 Who are the abusers? Adult child Spouse Sons and daughters in law Doctors

8 Physical signs of violence: These are very similar to other survivors of abuse: Unexplained bruises and old scars X-Ray evidence of old fractures Obvious signs of malnutrition, poor personal hygiene, dehydration etc. Signs of facial bruising, fingermark bruising on limbs. Burns - especially from cigarettes, bath water which was too hot. Evidence of the use of physical restraints.

9 Actual or Suspected Abuse Number of calls Percentage Suspected % Actual 1, % 1, %

10 Where abuse occurs Numbers Percentages Other 352.4% Sheltered housing 614.2% Hospital 735.0% Residential Home % Nursing Home % Own home % 1, %

11 Bogus Callers Dot Branning, EastEnders April 2003 According to research by Help the Aged ( /_items/bogus_crime.htm) /_items/bogus_crime.htm more than 300,000 older people around Britain fall victim to some form of attempted bogus caller crime every year. 51% of older people fail to report bogus caller incidents to police A quarter (25%) of older people open the door without employing any precautions nearly a quarter (23%) of women aged over 60 worry everytime they answer the door to unknown callers

12 Support for the elderly In 1988, Age Concern, England, issued a Charter of Rights to Community Care for Older People. The Law Commission report on mental capacity (Law Commission, 1995) The Lord Chancellor’s Department consultation document (Lord Chancellor’s Department, 1997) included draft adult protection legislation Making decisions (1999)- a policy paper from the Lord Chancellor’s Department The Department of Health issued guidance in 2000 on the establishment of multi-agency policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults.

13 Electronic Journal resource Jones, H. and Powell, J. (2006) ‘Old Age, Vulnerability and Sexual Violence: Implications for Knowledge and Practice’. International Nursing Review. Issue 53 (3):