Alcohol or drug abuse, intoxication, and substance withdrawal are the leading predictors of abusive behavior. Substance-dependent caregivers may attempt to use or sell drugs prescribed to the older person, depriving the person of treatment.
Older adults are at higher risk for chronic health problems like diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, 1 in 4 older adults fall each year, and falls are a leading cause of injury for this age group. Physical activity can help older adults prevent both chronic disease and fall-related injuries.
Victim Dependence and Caregiver Stress
Elderly people become frail, difficult to care for, and sometimes demanding. These characteristics cause stress for their caregivers; as a result of this stress, the caregivers become abusive or neglectful toward the elder.
The factor that most increases the risk of an elderly person suffering mistreatment is being frail to the point of dependency on care. When an elderly person becomes physically frail and dependent on others for their daily needs, they may become vulnerable to mistreatment or abuse.
Sixteen factors have been identified in caregivers that have been associated with increased likelihood for elder abuse and neglect: 1) responsibility for an elderly individual over the age of 75; 2) living constantly with the elderly dependent; 3) inexperience or unwillingness to provide care; 4) suffering a ...
Physical risk factors for substance use disorders in older adults can include: chronic pain; physical disabilities or reduced mobility; transitions in living or care situations; loss of loved ones; forced retirement or change in income; poor health status; chronic illness; and taking a lot of medicines and supplements.
Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies, and may have conditions or take medications that increase the risk of dehydration. This means that even minor illnesses, such as infections affecting the lungs or bladder, can result in dehydration in older adults.
Poverty or lack of opportunity to improve the family's resources. Family violence is present. A non-biological adult living in the house. Family is experiencing multiple stresses.
A risk factor is a variable that could increase your risk for a disease or infection. Physical activity, stress, and nutrition could all potentially play a role in your risk for developing certain diseases.
A previous history of abuse. The existence of financial problems. A member of the household experiences emotional or social isolation. Inappropriate physical or emotional environment e.g. lack of privacy and/ or personal space.
Low household income, unemployment or retirement, poor health, prior traumatic events, and low levels of social support all can indicate a higher likelihood that older people may experience mistreatment.
People living with dementia are vulnerable to abuse by people who are close to them, either in residential or home settings. They are also vulnerable to being taken advantage of by strangers because of their cognitive problems.
Altered perception and a delayed and/or altered ability to respond may both predispose one to injury. Diminished or impaired proprioception may reduce awareness of an impending fall and alterations in mobility, while changes in flexibility, posture, and gait are additional risk factors for injury.
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are common in older adults, with falls, orthostatic hypotension, delirium, renal failure, gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding being amongst the most common clinical manifestations.
As we get older, physiological changes can affect our metabolism, making it more likely that we will experience adverse reactions and side effects from medications.
Stressful life events (eg, chronic financial problems, death in the family) and the responsibilities of caregiving increase the likelihood of abuse. Difficulties managing stress or coping with caregiving burdens may contribute to abuse. Older people living alone are much less likely to be abused.
Early aggressive behavior, lack of parental supervision, academic problems, undiagnosed mental health problems, peer substance use, drug availability, poverty, peer rejection, and child abuse or neglect are risk factors associated with increased likelihood of youth substance use and abuse.
Statistics show that alcohol is the leading substance abused among the elderly today. Other substances used by the elderly are prescription medications, pain medications, marijuana, and nicotine. Comorbidity of substance use disorders with anxiety and depression disorders is common.
Potential Community and Socio-cultural Risk Factors
Some studies have reported that living in urban centers may increase the likelihood of mistreatment. Others have noted that age bias and stereotypes about older people contribute to elder mistreatment.
A caretaker's leaving an elderly patient home alone for a significant amount of time could be considered neglect, at the very least, and possibly abandonment.
Social stressors that increase the risk for abuse include divorce, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, social isolation, stressful parent-child relationships, single parenting, and the presence of a non-biological partner in the home.