Factors of Abuse
There are many reasons why older persons are abused, but we do not know them all. The more common risk factors are the following:
Social isolation: older persons living alone, those who have no children or living family members.
History of family violence:
the victim might have been abusive towards or had a strained
relationship with his/her spouse and/or children;
Dependence:
dependence on the abuser for support e.g. financial or emotional, or
care.
Drug or alcohol dependence:
the abuser could view the older person as an easy target to obtain
money to support his/her habit. An older person dependent on
drugs or alcohol would be vulnerable to abuse.
Carer stress:
Frequently the person who becomes the older person’s caregiver is the
member of the family who is at home, not necessarily the person best
suited or trained for the job. Caring for an
elderly spouse can be physically exhausting and extremely stressful,
especially if the caregiver is not physically able to
cope.
Inadequate training of staff in care /
residential facilities: staff who
are not properly trained to care for older persons can, through
ignorance, cause harm or distress to the patient.
Mental or physical frailty:
older persons suffering from dementia or who have suffered physically
debilitating illnesses e.g. a stroke, are particularly vulnerable to
various forms of abuse including sexual abuse, because of their frailty
and possible inability to express themselves.
Power of attorney given to a family member, professional or friend by
an older person when still mentally competent falls away when he/she
loses full mental capacity. South Africa does not
have an enduring power of attorney, therefore Curatorship or
administration must be applied for.
Aggressive behaviour:
some illnesses cause older persons to behave in an aggressive manner;
if the caregiver has not been well trained or is not familiar with the
illness the patient suffers from, this can lead to abuse.
Adult children with mental illness: some older persons have
adult children suffering from mental illness e.g. schizophrenia, who
display aggressive behaviour towards them and can become physically
violent.