The Elderly: Abuse, Neglect, and Stereotyping

1. The Elderly: Abuse, Neglect, and Stereotyping By Natalie Jagelski

2. Why the elderly? • I have wonderful grandparents who I love and see often • I could not believe that anybody would abuse an elder • I was interested in learning how to help stop elderly abuse and neglect

3. Thesis • The elderly are forced to endure false stereotypes, depressing neglect, and terrible abuse when, really, there are many successful and talented elders all over the world. • Stereotypes • Neglect • Abuse • Success

4. Stereotypes • Three main ones: - Greedy - Unattractive - Senile • Also sickly, cranky, and childlike • “Elders are lumped together under the heading of ‘old’ and attributed a demeaning set of characteristics: senile, sickly, unattractive, greedy, cranky, and childlike” (Walker 2).

5. Stereotypes II • Stereotypes made because: • People are afraid of aging • People do not visit elderly family members as often • People do not have a good understanding about the elderly • Is the picture of a young lady or an old woman?

6. Stereotype: Senile • “If a thirteen year old loses his glasses, he is seen as irresponsible, and a forty year old is perceived as being very busy. But when a seventy year old loses his glasses, others think he is senile” (Jaksic 1). • “I do not think the quote is true. Older people have years of information crowding their minds” (Freedman). • It has been noted that if elders pause and focus on where they left something, they can usually find it.

7. Anti-aging Ads • Say people should buy products to look younger • Ads show that wrinkles are ugly • Elders would be much more respected if they were not seen as lesser people because of their looks

8. The Elderly in Media • Elderly not used very often in advertising or regular television • When they do appear in media it is often in stereotypical manner • Usually excluded all together

9. Neglect • Includes: ignoring an elder, isolating an elder from family and friends, terrorizing or menacing an elder • Mainly happens because respect towards elders has decreased over this past generation

10. Neglect II • Elder neglect due to a failure to fulfill a caretakers obligation constitutes more then half of all reported cases of elderly abuse. • Neglect can lead to feelings of detachment and depression.

11. Warning Signs • Older adult wearing soiled clothing • Dirty • Looks malnourished • Untreated physical issues • Wearing inappropriate clothing for weather

12. Prevent Elder Neglect • Make sure older person is taking care of their health • Help senior stay active in community and connected with family and friends • Stay in touch, call or visit as often as possible

13. Verbal Abuse • Intimidating and elder by yelling or threats, humiliating an elder, blaming an elder for something they did not do • Very harmful and hurtful

14. Mental Abuse • People speak to or treat elderly persons in ways that cause emotional pain or distress • Can cause an elder to become distant from family and friends

15. Physical Abuse • Non-accidental use of force against an elder person that results in physical pain, injury, and impairment • Includes hitting, shoving, inappropriate drug use, restraints, etc.

16. Financial Abuse • Sending the same bill more then once • Charging an elder too much for a bill • Not returning change to an elder after a purchase • Warning signs: unusual patterns of spending from elders account, frequent purchases of inappropriate items, bills going unpaid, utilities being turned off, etc. • Older people are the first to get laid off

17. Elder Abuse • Grandchildren, spouses, caretakers, friends, neighbors, and service providers are abusers • 90% of abusers are family members • Of this 90%, 50% are adults and children, 20% are intimate partners • More then ½ of older victims are over 80 • 2/3 of victims are women • 60% of victims show signs of dementia or confusion • 40% of victims show signs of depression

18. Famous and Successful Elders • Bill Clinton: stated the William J. Clinton Foundation with a mission to alleviate poverty, improve global health, strengthen the economy, and protect the environment. • Harrison Ford became the highest paid actor in 2009 at age 65. • Clint Eastwood at age 82 is a successful actor and director. • There are also many, many more successful and famous elders.

19. Athletes • Johnny Kelley finished his 60th Boston Marathon when he was 83 • Ivor Welch ran five marathons between 83 and 88, at 90 he ran 2 half marathons

20. Community Service • For my community service I served 6 hours for a 79 year old lady who was going to have guests from out of town over • I: cleaned her upstairs and downstairs bathrooms, cleaned all of the mirrors in her house, cleaned her guest bedroom, polished her silver, and played some games with her.

21. Interview • The most interesting part about my interview was her thoughts on elderly stereotyping. • Infirm, inactive, have dementia • I did my interview over e-mail and, though I didn’t actually get to hear her voice, the interview meant a lot to me. • It was very interesting to learn about her own personal experiences and input regarding elder abuse, neglect, and stereotyping.

22. Visiting My Great Grandma • On mothers day I went to visit my 106 year old Great Grandmother • She does the Jumble game in the newspaper every morning • She said, “I may not be able to see or hear or walk, but I do have a strong and active mind.”

23. Interesting Facts • The fastest growing age group is 85 and older • Every 7.5 seconds a baby boomer turns 60 • In 2030, 1 out of every 5 people will be 65 or older • In 2005, 25% of Americans over 50 played video games

24. Alike or Different? • At the beginning of this project, I already knew that the elderly were human just like all of us, but this project made me feel more respect towards the elderly. • I used to make small jokes with my brother saying that my grandparents were senile. After this project, though, I have really come to realize that as people get older they have more and more memories crowding their minds. • Their memories are what makes them interesting and enjoyable people to be around. • The elderly are definitely more alike then different. Society just needs to open their eyes and see elders for whom they truly are: humans.

25. Work Cited • Freedman, Carol. E-mail Interview. 3 April 2012. • Jaksic, Vesna. “Elderly Face Bias Stereotyping.” Global Action on Aging. 25 May 2003. (Web). 18 March 2012. • “Preventing Elder Abuse and Neglect in Older Adults: Tips From the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging.” The Ags Foundation For Health in Aging. 27 April 2010. (Web). 18 March 2012.

26. Work Cited II • Robinson, Lawrence. “Elder Abuse and Neglect: Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Prevention, and Help.” Helpguide.org. January 2012. (Web). 5 March 2012. • Starr, Brian. “Ten Ways to Prevent Elder Abuse.” Starr Law Firm. (Web). 18 March 2012. • Stevens, John. “Successful and Famous People Over 65.” EzineMark.com. 27 September 2011. (Web). 18 March 2012.

27. Work Cited III • “The Immortals: Successful Athletes Over 60, Chapter 12.” WorldHealth.net. 10 November 2003. (Web). 18 March 2012. • Walker, Jessica. “Elder Stereotypes in Media and Popular Culture.” Aging Watch. 30 October 2010. (Web). 7 March 2012.

28. The End