According to the American Psychological Association (APA), "every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect." Estimates are based on reports of abuse. The APA believes that many cases of abuse go unreported and that the true numbers of abuse may be as much as five times higher.
Psychological abuse in elderly care is defined as intentional emotional abuse from caregivers toward the elderly people in their care. Psychological abuse can happen in nursing homes or at the elderly person's home. Abusers can be hired caretakers or family members.
Psychological abuse should not be taken lightly. Elderly victims of psychological abuse are prone to depression, anxiety and emotional withdrawal. There are various forms of psychological abuse.
Verbal
Verbal abuse consists of yelling and name calling. Examples of verbal abuse are, "You are so stupid." and "I hate you." Elderly people who are subjected to verbal abuse by their caregivers can develop low self-esteem and experience depression.
Threats
Elderly people who rely on others for their care are sometimes subjected to threats made by their caregivers. Some examples of threats are, "Stop complaining, or I won't feed you." "Do that again and I will put you in a nursing home where you will die." "Do you wan't me to hit you?" Elderly people who are verbally threatened by caregivers live in fear for their well-being and future.
Humiliation
Humiliation in elderly care is when a caregiver treats an elderly person like a child, makes fun of the elderly person or fails to use discretion about sharing facts about the elderly person's life with others. Examples of treating the elderly person like a child are disallowing the elderly person to make any adult decisions or talking to the elderly person using a tone one would use when speaking to a baby. Making fun of an elderly person can include a statement like, "You wear a diaper just like a baby." A lack of privacy and a lack of discretion exists when a caregiver shares personal details of the elderly person's life inappropriately with others. Note: Sharing necessary medical issues with doctors is not a form of humiliation.
Isolation
Isolation occurs when caregivers fail to provide appropriate physical and emotional contact to comfort an elderly person. Refusing to speak to an elderly person and leaving an elderly person alone in a room are forms of isolation. The elderly person may not have any contact with the outside world, resulting in feelings of loneliness, helplessness, depression and anxiety.
Violation of Rights
Violation of rights is another form of psychological elderly abuse. Rights are violated when privacy is taken away. An example of an action that takes an elderly person's privacy away is removal of that person's bedroom door. Other actions that violate an elderly person's rights include not allowing them to practice their religious beliefs and not giving the elderly their mail.
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