| tic Violence and Elder Abuse – It’s | | | | institution. |
| Unforgivable | | | | A different situation would be when the care-giver is |
| It really may not be as unusual as it appears. It is a | | | | actually culpable. We are familiar with the terms |
| form of domestic abuse which is often not given the | | | | bad-parenting skills, but we just don’t have a |
| attention it deserves. Old age somehow seems to | | | | term to describe children who are simply not |
| rob people of their rights to complain along with most | | | | equipped to give quality care to their old parents. |
| of their other faculties. Somehow elders are seen as | | | | While some folks have the ability, the understanding |
| less than human with their weakened perceptions and | | | | and the capability to care for old people with a smiling |
| altered appearances. Just because they have lost | | | | face, there are others who seem at a loss, and are |
| their powers of sight or articulation or mind, it really | | | | actually uneasy around elders and their peculiar |
| can’t be taken to mean that they | | | | mannerisms. When this second group of people is |
| don’t hurt or feel emotions. Thousands of | | | | responsible to care for their elders, things can get |
| essays on domestic violence issues are written | | | | chaotic. |
| everyday, but rarely does one come across one | | | | So where do you get off abusing an elder??? |
| analyzing elder abuse, which also takes place in | | | | Scot-free, usually. However, sometimes other family, |
| domestic circles. | | | | friends, or care givers witness such acts and contact |
| The causes of domestic violence directed at elders | | | | the authorities or social services. |
| are many—the first and foremost among this | | | | Elders and their complaints are normally treated as |
| would be that it is merely payback time for all the | | | | some sort of joke. Grandpa Simpson can vouch for |
| abuse the children had to put up with when they | | | | that. National domestic violence figures hardly account |
| were young. When a father unleashes violence on his | | | | for the rising numbers of elder abuse, simply because |
| family, the last thing to occur to him would be that | | | | they are not in any position to complain. The |
| one day he is going to be old and feeble, while the | | | | care-giver-turned-abuser becomes a figure of |
| weeping toddler is going to be a hulking six-footer | | | | intimidation and coercion. This either shuts them up, |
| with a long memory. This would be a major cause of | | | | or results in mumbles and barely understood ramblings |
| domestic violence from children to their parents. | | | | which are hastily put down to approaching senility. |
| Now not all parents are abusive. It is a tragic fact | | | | The national domestic violence hotline is least used by |
| that even loving, caring parents wind up abused if | | | | abused elders. |
| they have the temerity to live long. Care-giving | | | | In the case of elder abuse, the psychological variety |
| children may actually experience a burn-out. Taking | | | | is more rampant than the physical, but cases where |
| care of a senile elder is no picnic. The so-called | | | | the care-giver actually lays hands on an elder, are not |
| second childhood may actually turn out to be just | | | | as rare as is supposed. In such situations, the entire |
| that. Diet-restrictions, toilet training, walks, | | | | control is in the hands of the abuser. While an abused |
| entertainment, and medication for the elder may | | | | youngster can spend the night out on the streets or |
| have to be worked into your routine, as if that | | | | with a friend, and a woman might be able to leave, |
| wasn’t complicated enough. While you may | | | | an elder has no such options. |
| send your toddler to go sit in the corner, or the older | | | | The elderly are literally at the mercy of their |
| one to just go upstairs without dessert, you simply | | | | care-giver, and this makes elder abuse the most |
| can’t do that to grandpa. So caring for elders | | | | heinous and dastardly of all. How would you feel if |
| can take a huge physical as well as psychological toll | | | | you were helpless, lying there, and a family member |
| out of you. | | | | or care giver was taunting you, not cleaning or |
| And then one day the last straw lands on your over | | | | washing you, not feeding you, yelling at you and |
| laden back and you may go berserk. Yes you do | | | | making you feel worthless so you wanted to die, or |
| have your reasons, but it is still not right. What you | | | | “forgetting” to give you your |
| may need to do is not let it go this far. Seek help | | | | medication? If you couldn’t even get up, |
| before you snap. Get someone to take over for a | | | | what would you do if someone did this to you? Or |
| change. If you are an only child, there might be Good | | | | worse, what if they laid their hands on you and hit |
| Samaritan relatives or friends who may be just | | | | you? It is well worth remembering that your day will |
| looking to do their good deed for the day. You could | | | | soon come, too. |
| also try volunteer agencies, or check out a good | | | | |