preventing elder abuse

Preventing Elder Abuse
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Preventing Elder Abuse
Description of the Problem
As people old, they become a week to the extent that they may not be in a position to sufficiently take care of their own needs. They become victims of abuse by the rest of the population. Elder abuse is said to be a major public health problem. It is estimated that each year, there are hundreds of thousands of old people who are usually abused, neglected and financially neglected. Approximately, one in every ten people aged over 60 years and living at home are usually neglected (CDC, 2017). It is important to note that this estimate may not present the real picture of the situation since some victims are not able or are afraid to disclose the abuse. The common types of abuse include physical, emotional, financial and neglect (CDC, 2017). Some elders even experience sexual abuse.
Impact
When subjected to abuse, the older adults are more likely to suffer from various diseases and health complications most of which are related to depression. As a result, this has become a major public health concern. Elder abuse may also lead to a shorter lifespan as they may die faster than normal.
Interventions
Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and equally despite their age. Therefore, the old should be treated like any other member of the community. Putting systems that prevent abuse of the old would be one of the effective interventions. One such system would involve the creation of community support for caregivers as well as for older people that could aid in decreasing the risks that amount to elder abuse (Health in Aging, 2018).

Also, providing sufficient funds that could help in offering better quality training to people who work on giving care to the elderly so that they can detect abuse on a timely basis could be an effective intervention. It would help them take the right measures to prevent abuse.
References
CDC. (2017). Elder Abuse Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/features/elderabuse/index.html
Health in Aging (2018). Preventing Elder Abuse and Neglect in Older Adults Tools and Tips. Health in Aging. Retrieved from http://www.healthinaging.org/resources/resource:preventing-elder-abuse-and-neglect-in-older-adults/>