Elder abuse: Mickey Rooney breaks stereotypes

It’s a good time to clear up some misconceptions there are about elder abuse:

• Although such abuse does occur, the majority of elder abuse incidents don’t occur in nursing homes.
• Because the majority of older people live on their own or with their spouses or family members, most elder abuse and neglect takes place at home. There are extreme cases of elder abuse, but many times the abuse is subtle, and the distinction between normal interpersonal stress and abuse is blurred.
• There is no one single pattern of elder abuse. Sometimes there is a continuance of long-standing patterns of physical or emotional abuse within the family. But perhaps more commonly, the abuse is related to changes in living situations and relationships brought about by the older person’s growing frailty and dependence on others.
• Not just infirm or mentally impaired elderly people are vulnerable to abuse. Elders who are ill, frail, disabled, mentally impaired or depressed are at greater risk of abuse, but even those who do not have these risk factors can fall victim to abusive situations and relationships.

Source: American Psychological Association, AARP, National Center on Elder Abuse