Lana Hollerud

Crime Victims Resource Center

The number of elderly Americans continues to increase due to baby boomers reaching retirement age and their increased life expectancy. With the increasing number of elderly comes increasing incidents of elder abuse.

“Caregiver stress” is often erroneously cited as a major cause of elder abuse. While caring for an elderly relative and dealing with their physical limitations, and perhaps dementia, can be stressful, the fact is that the vast majority of caregivers do not abuse the elderly for which they provide care. Relating caregiver stress to abuse suggests to the elderly that if they were easier to care for, or would do more for themselves, they wouldn’t experience abuse. This shifts the responsibility for the abuse from the abuser to the victim, and does not acknowledge that only the abuser is responsible for their actions. This is significant because programs to reduce caregiver stress may not be effective in reducing a significant amount of elder abuse.

Elderly victims are reluctant to tell anyone about the abuse they are experiencing for many reasons, including their dependency on the caregiver and perceived lack of options for alternative care. They also are reluctant to tell anyone what they are experiencing for fear they won’t be believed, that the abuse will be minimized, or they will be blamed for causing their caregiver to be abusive.

It isn’t the case anymore where a network of family members work together to care for their elderly. It is more likely today that the responsibility for caring for the elderly falls to only one or two family members. This social isolation the elderly and their caregivers may be experiencing causes the three most common types of elder abuse — neglect, emotional abuse and financial abuse — to flourish.

You can help an isolated neighbor, friend or acquaintance by being aware of the signs of elder abuse and speaking up when you see something that concerns you. For more information on signs of elder abuse or options available, please give us a call at the Crime Victims Resource Center, 507 437-6680.