Background or Literature Review
Elder abuse is a significant issue in our society. Studies and statistics show that the issue is getting worse, showing that more elderly people in society today are experiencing the negative effects of abuse (Anderson et al., 2012). The country’s aging population suggests that elder abuse may be more prevalent than previously thought. According to the Census Bureau, the number of people surviving up to 90 years has tripled during the last 30 years. According to Jackson and Hafemeister (2013), there were about two million at the time. The likelihood of further population growth is the most intriguing reality.
A significant demand is being placed on the relatives, family, or friends who are left to shoulder the responsibility of caring for the elderly even as the number of the elderly is growing. Among the risk factors for elder abuse are the poor economy and the stress brought on by the demands of this demographic. The situation makes the already vulnerable population more vulnerable to abuse (George & Ferraro, 2015). The fact that the abusers are people who are very close to the victim makes the issue worse. Other variables, such as mental health issues, especially dementia, raise the risk. Alzheimer’s disease and other mental health issues are becoming more prevalent among the elderly in this nation (Dong et al., 2013). It’s important to remember that caring for these people is a difficult reality.
Because to the rise in unreported cases, the variety in how the issue is defined, and the absence of a national reporting system, it is difficult to gauge the extent of the problem. Nobody disputes that the challenge is getting more difficult every day, though.