Elderly: Abuse or Abusers? (From Abuse of the Elderly: Issues and Annotated Bibliography, P 86-90, 1989, Benjamin Schlesinger and Rachel Schlesinger, eds. -- See NCJ-121555)

• NCJ Number: 121563
• Author(s): S E Goldstein; A Blank
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: Reasoned Straight Program, Inc
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: Reprinted from the Canadian Medical Association Journal, V 127 (September 15, 1982).

Annotation

While the elderly are often abused, the problem can be overemphasized, reflecting the reality that elderly care is complex and difficult for both the aged and their caregivers.

Abstract

There are many complicating factors in the relationship between the elderly and their children, including personality traits that become exaggerated with age, the children's guilt that forces them to try to cope with difficult situations despite financial and emotional hardships, the elder's feelings of frustration and anger, and organic and mental impairments of the elderly. When elders reside in institutions, those facilities are often unable to set limits of appropriate behavior and have little recourse when accusations of abuse arise. Finally, elders are susceptible to financial manipulation from their families. On the other hand, the assets of mentally incompetent patients are often protected by a public trustee, creating hardship for the spouse or caregiver. In most cases, the elder person should have full rights to his assets. 4 references.