Protection for the Elderly
http://www.setthestageforsuccess.com/articles/43414/1/Protection-for-the-Elderly/Page1.html
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert is the founder of National Information Resource Services (NIRS), an organization committed to educating people on the home care industry. Currently residing in Newport Coast, CA, Rejoyce is the General Manager of MemorialCare Home Caregivers. She is also a nationally recognized advocate for the elderly
and is one of the most highly-sought after speakers in her field. She is a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and continues to work hard and help people realize their own goals.By Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Published on 06/28/2010
When I was growing up, grandparents were revered for their unbelievable
capacity to love and their
wealth of knowledge. Although mine passed away before I had
the
opportunity to tap into their wisdom, there were several surrogate
grandparents
in my community that showed me as much love and concern as a biological
family. As an advocate for the elderly, I am shocked and appalled when I hear stories of the abuses faced by this group. Someday we will all approach this golden age. Now is the time to take action and set the stage to protect our elderly and infirmed.
In times past, seniors were seen as sources of empirical information and, more importantly, as role models with wisdom to be shared.
My father embraced this position as he entered the winter season of his life. At that time, he became a "surrogate grandparent" within our community. He lived happily to the age of one
hundred and
two years old mainly because
of his close interactions with his peers and with the adolescents who looked up
to him for his counsel in constructing a blueprint for their lives. I am thankful that before my father passed away more than twenty
years ago he never knew the term “Elder Abuse.”
On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, I attended the UCI World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Event at the Family Justice Center in Anaheim, California. The event featured Associate U.S Attorney General Thomas Perrelli, Judge Susan Carbon who is the head of the federal Office on Violence Against Women (and an appointee of President Barack Obama), and Mary Twomey Co-Director of the UC Irvine Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect. While the purpose of the event was to raise awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, it was also, as Mary Twomey stated, “a local, statewide and national response to the problem."
As an advocate for the elderly I was moved to tears when victims, who were a direct reflection of the surrogate grandparents I knew in my childhood years, shared their unbelievable but true stories of abuse. What resonated with me the most was a story told by an elderly woman who was diagnosed with cancer. She said that a few days after having breast surgery, her husband punched her in her breast area. As she writhed in pain on the floor, he coldly said, “You deserve it.” Then walked away.
The anger I felt after hearing this manifested itself into a lump in my throat, pain in my heart, and tears in my eyes. Elder abuse comes in many forms. It includes physical, verbal, sexual, financial, and even psychological abuse. In Orange County alone, there are 3,000 reported cases of elder abuse annually. Statistically approximately 85% of elder abusers are family members while 15% are either friends or caregivers.
Sometimes abuse is not reported because the victims fear retaliation from the perpetrator. Sometimes the abuse is not reported because a co-dependent relationship was established between the abuser and the victim where the fear of losing the relationship is more unbearable to the victim than the abuse itself. Other times, embarrassment is the primary reason for abusive treatment to go unreported. Some victims fear that if they report the abuse, they may lose their home and get placed in a facility.
Education is one of the most powerful means of stopping elder abuse. By educating our community and giving our seniors the tools and confidence they need to be more aware of “red flags,” we can, as a community, shine light on the dark secret of elder abuse. We need to dig this issue out from underground and place it on the dinner table, the radio, and the television to make it a mainstream cause that gets the national and worldwide attention it deserves.
Unless we all stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves, unless we respond to the silent screams of the elderly victims in our community, this insidious cycle of violence will destroy the very fabric of our society. I invite everyone who reads this article to respond by sharing it with someone. I encourage people to start a movement in their communities, towns, cities, and states all over the world.
Let’s make June 15, 2011 the day when people all over the world stand together and say, “No more abuse for our elderly.” Let’s give our elderly back the love, respect, and appreciation they deserve. By speaking out, we honor them.
For more information about Elder Abuse Awareness and Neglect please call MemorialCare Home Caregivers 877-380-9080 or visit our web site at www.memorialcaregivers.com.
If you would like more in depth information on reporting and/or identifying Elder Abuse please contact: Adult Protective Services: 1-800-252-5400 Elder Abuse Forensic Center: 1-714-825-3001 Human Options (24 hr hot line) 1- 877-854-3594 National Eldercare Locator 1 -800-677-1116.
On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, I attended the UCI World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Event at the Family Justice Center in Anaheim, California. The event featured Associate U.S Attorney General Thomas Perrelli, Judge Susan Carbon who is the head of the federal Office on Violence Against Women (and an appointee of President Barack Obama), and Mary Twomey Co-Director of the UC Irvine Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect. While the purpose of the event was to raise awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, it was also, as Mary Twomey stated, “a local, statewide and national response to the problem."
As an advocate for the elderly I was moved to tears when victims, who were a direct reflection of the surrogate grandparents I knew in my childhood years, shared their unbelievable but true stories of abuse. What resonated with me the most was a story told by an elderly woman who was diagnosed with cancer. She said that a few days after having breast surgery, her husband punched her in her breast area. As she writhed in pain on the floor, he coldly said, “You deserve it.” Then walked away.
The anger I felt after hearing this manifested itself into a lump in my throat, pain in my heart, and tears in my eyes. Elder abuse comes in many forms. It includes physical, verbal, sexual, financial, and even psychological abuse. In Orange County alone, there are 3,000 reported cases of elder abuse annually. Statistically approximately 85% of elder abusers are family members while 15% are either friends or caregivers.
Sometimes abuse is not reported because the victims fear retaliation from the perpetrator. Sometimes the abuse is not reported because a co-dependent relationship was established between the abuser and the victim where the fear of losing the relationship is more unbearable to the victim than the abuse itself. Other times, embarrassment is the primary reason for abusive treatment to go unreported. Some victims fear that if they report the abuse, they may lose their home and get placed in a facility.
Education is one of the most powerful means of stopping elder abuse. By educating our community and giving our seniors the tools and confidence they need to be more aware of “red flags,” we can, as a community, shine light on the dark secret of elder abuse. We need to dig this issue out from underground and place it on the dinner table, the radio, and the television to make it a mainstream cause that gets the national and worldwide attention it deserves.
Unless we all stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves, unless we respond to the silent screams of the elderly victims in our community, this insidious cycle of violence will destroy the very fabric of our society. I invite everyone who reads this article to respond by sharing it with someone. I encourage people to start a movement in their communities, towns, cities, and states all over the world.
Let’s make June 15, 2011 the day when people all over the world stand together and say, “No more abuse for our elderly.” Let’s give our elderly back the love, respect, and appreciation they deserve. By speaking out, we honor them.
For more information about Elder Abuse Awareness and Neglect please call MemorialCare Home Caregivers 877-380-9080 or visit our web site at www.memorialcaregivers.com.
If you would like more in depth information on reporting and/or identifying Elder Abuse please contact: Adult Protective Services: 1-800-252-5400 Elder Abuse Forensic Center: 1-714-825-3001 Human Options (24 hr hot line) 1- 877-854-3594 National Eldercare Locator 1 -800-677-1116.