NCJ Number
191360
Journal
Sheriff Volume: 53 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2001 Pages: 30-32
Date Published
2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
It is important for law enforcement officers, as first responders, to recognize the early warning signs of domestic crimes against the elderly to prevent their victimization.
Abstract
The growing number of senior citizens choosing to maintain their independent lifestyles outside of institutions such as nursing facilities is being accompanied by increasing opportunities for their victimization. Senior citizens who prefer to maintain an independent lifestyle may find themselves having to rely on family to a greater extent than they may have previously. All too often the assistance is provided by just one or two family members, which can impose financial, physical, and emotional hardships on those caregivers. This can set the stage for domestic crimes against an elderly person, which can include neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation. In 1994 more than 800,000 elders were estimated to have been victims of various types of elder abuse. Often the risk factors for domestic crime are subtle, but discernible to those who are trained to identify them. These may include caregiver frustration, intergenerational dependence, and a history of negative family relationships. In communities across the Nation, local Triad organizations are taking the lead in elder abuse prevention. Many are working to help law enforcement officials be better able to identify the risk factors and warning signs of abuse through training.