Elder abuse and neglect is a severe issue in the United States. According to the Department of Justice, one out of ten older adults (60+) reportedly experience some form of elder abuse in a given year. In South Carolina, cases of elder abuse continue to rise—although it’s likely that a majority of cases go unreported. Elder abuse can occur anywhere by anyone who has proximity to an older adult—including family, close friends, nursing home staff, nurses, and physical therapists.
The first step to reporting abuse is being able to recognize it. There are five categories of elder abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, and caregiver neglect. The short-term and long-term effects for anyone experiencing any one of these categories of abusive treatment can be detrimental to well-being.
Elder Abuse Defined
The Justice Department defines elder abuse as “an intentional act or failure to act by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term under which five types of abuse are reflected.”
Physical abuse
This type of abusive behavior is defined as causing pain or injury through actions like hitting, pushing, or improper use of restraints.
Emotional abuse
Threats, humiliation, coercion, name-calling, and gaslighting are all forms of emotional abuse. While a victim of emotional abuse may not have bodily injuries, they may become mentally distressed.
Financial exploitation
Financial abuse includes any illicit or unethical use of an older person’s funds—for example, stealing, scamming, blackmailing, or lying to gain access to their finances.
Caregiver neglect
A caregiver's main tasks are facilitating food, shelter, medical attention, and basic assistance to those under their care. Intentional or accidental withholding of these needs is considered caregiver neglect.
Sexual abuse
Elderly sexual abuse includes any non-consensual sexual contact or inappropriate sexual behavior towards an older adult.
Elder Abuse in South Carolina—Laws and Regulations
The laws in South Carolina protect vulnerable adults—but they could be better. The Omnibus Adult Protection Act and Adult Protective Services (APS) are crucial in ensuring that senior citizens in South Carolina are protected by law and government services. APS is the main body responsible for investigating reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Yet, South Carolina has made headlines in recent years for having some of the worst elder abuse protections. This year, the state ranked fourth worst—an improvement from past years. That said, issues like lack of funding, lack of volunteers, and poor-quality nursing home options all contribute to the poor score. In 2018, it was ranked the worst.
Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
As hospitals and emergency clinics have suffered from short staffing in recent years, so have nursing homes. A combination of understaffing, employee burnout, improper training, and underdeveloped care plans has led to cases of elder abuse and neglect in nursing home settings. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman addresses these cases in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
It’s recommended that those with loved ones in nursing homes commit to frequent visitations. That way, lines of communication stay open, and if there is potential neglect or abuse by nursing room personnel, it will not go unnoticed. Unexplained injuries, changes in mood, malnutrition, and withdrawal could all indicate something is not quite right.
Reporting Elder Abuse
Charlson community members must do their part to help address elder abuse in the state of South Carolina. Here are some steps you can take if you suspect elder abuse.
- Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms that an older adult could be experiencing abuse or neglect. This includes unexplained injuries, sudden changes in mood, large and unaccounted-for transactions, weight loss, and more.
- Keep the evidence. Take photos to safeguard any documents, invoices, and medical records. Take notes on any conversations you overhear or any disclosure communications from the potential victic.
- Contact authorities such as APS, the Long-Term Care Obudsman, or the police.
- Follow up and consider legal action. Vulnerable adults have rights, which may be grounds for a lawsuit if those rights have been violated. Charleston, South Carolina nursing home abuse lawyer Nathan Hughey can provide more information and options.
If you’re unsure if your observations could constitute abuse, consult a trusted friend, therapist, or member of the community. Even if your suspicions are unfounded, it’s better to inform the authorities and take the time to look into the situation in greater detail.
Conclusion
Elder abuse can have severe short-term and long-term effects on vulnerable members of our society. While many laws and services have been set up to help protect aging adults, much work remains to be done. Educating community members about the causes, symptoms, and possible consequences of elder abuse is a good starting point. Many cases still go unreported, meaning it’s hard to estimate how many cases occur each year on average. But one in ten is already too much!
