Week 15 Post 2

 When reading Chapter 25 about the caring for frail elderly, one issue stood out to me: elder abuse.  Caregiving sometimes results in resentment and social isolation which increases the risk of depression, poor health and abuse.  Abuse occurs when the caregiver suffers from emotional problems.  These caregivers often believe that overmedication, locked doors and physical restraints are their only options to cope with difficult, frail, elderly relatives.  All of those options are considered to be abuse by professionals.  Studies found that 5% of elders say they are abused and one-fourth of elders are vulnerable but do not report abuse.  Usually the elders that do not report abuse choose not to because they are being mistreated by their relatives and are ashamed to admit it.  Since not all elders report it, the actual rate of elder abuse is closer to one-fourth of all elders.  This statistic surprised me.  I was surprised that so many caregivers would abuse their related elders.  I understand why some of the elders did not report abuse but I just don't get why it would happen to begin with.  If a caregiver cannot take care of the elderly properly, the elder should be placed in long-term care or find some other caregiver.  I understand it could be hard to place your elderly relatives in long-term care but I know if I couldn't properly take care of someone so important to me, I would want to do what is best for them.