Hall, G., " Weis, B. Elder Abuse. Elder Care: A Resource for Inter-professional Providers. Retrieved March 9, 2015, from http://aging.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/elder_abuse.pdf (2007).
Elderly abuse has become one of the most concerns on tribal lands despite many cultural norms stressing on the respect for the old. The author notes that, Native American elders experience twice the rate of abuse compared to the general population. For forms of abuse are mostly reported. They include the failure of to meet basic needs by the old people(neglect), misuse of the elderly property and money by other people except the owner (material Exploitation), causing emotional pain and even injury through intimidation (Psychological and emotional mistreatment) and finally physical abuse.
Age, physical health, living situation, poverty (which includes unemployment of the elderly), and caregivers record of poor mental health and drug abuse places the elderly at a higher risk of different forms of violence. For example, those elder people who live alone face a greater risk of financial exploitation while those who live with other people have a greater chance of been violated physically, sexually and psychologically. Elderly women are at a higher risk of been violated as compared to their male counterparts.
Barton, R.. Combating Elder Abuse in Indian Country. Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/16/combating-elder-abuse-indian-country 2012, April 16
In this article, Barton argues out that 20%oftheamerican population will be 65years old by 2030.the percentage will however double among the Native Americans. He notes that the growing number of the elderly is a point of concern due to their prevalence of elderly abuse in India. They mostly experience physical, emotional abuse, financial exploitation and most of them end up been neglected. Such abuses are usually committed by family members although it is hard to point the exact abusers since mist incidences are underreported.
Recent studies showed that 1 in every 13 eldely people were experiencing some form of mistreatment in a period of one year. Most of them reported that they experienced higher levels of financial exploitation and physical abuse in the hands of family members. Many elderly people were isolated and only 57 were able to report any form of abuse.
Buchwald, D., Tamita, S., Hartman, S., Furman, R., Dudden, M., " Manson, S. (2000). Physical Abuse of Urban Native Americans. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 15, pp. 562–564.
The authors noted that the rate of abuse among the American Indians and Alaska Natives. They go ahead to explain that these findings may be due to lack of recognition of abuse by immediate care providers or even family members. The article highlights the review of medical records of 550 elderly people and points out the frequency and the risks of elder abuse and the physical mistreatments.
The results of the study showed that 10% of the sample population was either physically abused or female elderly were at a higher risk of sexual abuse. The victims of abuse showed signs such as current or histories of depression, use of drugs and alcohol, health problems and even suicidal attempts.
These findings are relevant to my thesis since I will be able to affirm that this is true and try to solve the problem. By my legal services the victims of abuse will be able to access legal services which may finally mean living life free from any form of violence and alternatively eradicate such practices in the whole community.
Graves, M., " LaCounte, C. Elder Abuse presentation. Administration for Community Living. Retrieved March 22, 2015, from https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/American-IndianAlaska-Native/AIAN/Webinar-Archive-Documents/LTSS-Elder-Abuse-Webinar.pdf
Graves and LaCounte discuss elderly abuse from different points of view, how to identify the abuse, causes of the abuse and finally how to combat elderly abuse. According to National Center on elderly abuse, elderly abuse is an act by a caregiver or any person who causes harm or serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult, which is usually intentional or negligent. The author point out that elder abuse may vary from physical abuse, sexual, emotional, neglectful and even spiritual abuse.
The authors argue that the elderly become more vulnerable because of the trust most elderly people give to their caregivers, many are seen as fools to perpetuators of the abuse and their high dependency ratio as well as they are usually isolated. Many perpetuators of abuse have mental health issues, stress or even drug abuse problems.
National Association of Adult Protective Services Administrators. Elder Abuse Awareness Kit: A Resource Kit for Protecting Older People and People with Disabilities. National Center on Elder Abuse. Retrieved March 18, 2015, from http://www.napsa-now.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/09/speakers.pdf
The author discusses about the ill health conditions and the socioeconomic status of the American Indian elderly generation. According the census conducted in 1990, 12% of the Native American populations are elderly people and the statistics indicate that more than half the population have difficulties accessing Indian Health services. The author attributed such challenges to social changes happening in the community.
The kit talks about physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse neglect and exploitation. This article divides elder maltreatment into three categories which include abuse, neglect and exploitation.
According to the author, abuse includes sexual assault, verbal, psychological and physical abuse. Signs of such abuses include cuts, burns and physical injuries. Neglect is the next category of maltreatment of the elderly. It may result to starvation due to lack of food, dehydration, overdosing or under dosing, poor sanitation, lack of good medical care as well as poor hygiene. Exploitation is the last category and it entails the misuse of resources, formerly owned by the old person for caregiver’s personal benefit.
The researcher goes ahead to point out measures that can be put across to eradicate elderly abuse. He points out things like public awareness through the media. He points out that the caregivers should be given guidance to prepare him to take care of the elderly person.
These findings are important to my research since they will enable me to investigate whether my research population go through all these forms of exploitation and will be able to come up with the necessary measures to curb such instances. For instances, I will consider pushing up for laws that punish perpetuators abuse towards the older generation. I will use mobile services to be able to meet a wider generation and solve some of the problems that may hinder me from reaching a wider generation due to issues such as isolation, health problems and financial instability experienced by the target group.
Dick S., Don W., Richard L., " Sheila M. Violence and Disability. Baltimore Brookes, 1995
The authors notes that people with disability experience one form of violence or another in their lifetime. People with disability are not only susceptible to physical, psychological and sexual abuse but also go through institutional abuse, chemical restraint, ridicule, humiliation and harassment. People with disability, especially children, experience discrimination and social exclusion in different time of their lives. Such aspects lead to issues such as poverty among the disabled, prejudice, lack of quality services from different institutions.
In most countries, people with disabilities are overlooked in most health programs. For instance, in HIV/AIDs programs, most people living with disabilities are assumed since most people think that such youths are sexually inactive. According to the research, parents, educators and peers are not usually at ease to discuss matters sex with youths living with disability and therefore they are denied their right to basic information.
People with disability face a lot of difficulties accessing water and basic sanitation especially in the development world. They also face technical barriers accessing facilities such as fetching water, poor lighting and getting to the washrooms. Stigma and discrimination faced by people with disabilities at times is as a result of social barriers which are set by the community.
According to the research findings, poverty and disability are inseparable. Poverty is a mojor contributor leading to disability whereas disability in most cases traps people into poverty. For instance, children from poor background are likely to face disability due to poor healthcare, malnutrition, poor sanitation and dangerous working conditions. Children with disabilities are likely to remain poor throughout their life due to lack of education and exclusion from employment arenas. People living with disabilities face discrimination and violence in schools, family, community, justice system, the workplace and even in the residential area. There is consistent evidence that people with disabilities experience physical and sexual violence and neglect from other non-disabled people.
According to the research findings, lack of skills and qualifications often limit the people with disabilities from accessing employment. People they are not given the chance to go school and if they do they are not given equal opportunities as their counterparts. For instance, instead of sending disabled children to school, they are often used for begging since they are perceived as being more compliant. Women with good education but are disabled have much less job options and less secure job futures. To make matters even worse, people with disability are not actively involved in decision making and even if they are, their opinions are not given the same weight as for those people without disability.
The findings of the above research are reliable and they are from an up to date source. I affirm the findings in my research and certain whether such experiences applies across the board. If so, I will be able to help them to get their justice and face fair and non-discriminatory treatment in different settings through my personal and mobile legal services.
References
Barton, R.. Combating Elder Abuse in Indian Country. Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/16/combating-elder-abuse-indian-country
2012, April 16
Hall, G., " Weis, B. Elder Abuse. Elder Care: A Resource for Interprofessional Providers. Retrieved March 9, 2015, from http://aging.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/elder_abuse.pdf (2007).
Graves, M., " LaCounte, C. Elder Abuse presentation. Administration for Community Living. Retrieved March 22, 2015, from https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/American-IndianAlaska-Native/AIAN/Webinar-Archive-Documents/LTSS-Elder-Abuse-Webinar.pdf
National Association of Adult Protective Services Administrators. Elder Abuse Awareness Kit: A Resource Kit for Protecting Older People and People with Disabilities. National Center on Elder Abuse. Retrieved March 18, 2015, from http://www.napsa-now.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/09/speakers.pdf
Dick S., Don W., Richard L., " Sheila M. Violence and Disability. Baltimore Brookes, 1995
