Safe Seniors

Elder abuse is any form of mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an older per-son.  It is generally divided into the fol-lowing categories:

Physical abuse is physical force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment.  It includes assault, battery, and inappropriate restraint.

Sexual abuse is non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an older person.

Domestic violence is an escalating pattern of violence by an intimate partner where the violence is used to exercise power and control.

Psychological abuse is the willful inflic-tion of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, or other verbal or non-verbal conduct.

Financial abuse is the illegal or improper use of an older person’s funds, property, or resources.
Neglect is the failure of a caregiver to ful-fill his or her care giving responsibilities.

Self-neglect is failure to provide for one’s own essential needs.

Although estimates vary, it is generally believed that 4-6% of the elderly are abused. According to the National Incidence Study on Elder Abuse, approximately 450,000 elderly experienced abuse nationwide.  If self-neglect is included, the number increases to 551,000.

How serious a problem is it?

The personal losses associated with abuse can be devastating and include the loss of independence, homes, life savings, health, dignity, and security. Victims of abuse have been shown to have shorter life expectancies than non-abused older people.

How does this effect Mitchell County?

The population of Mitchell County as a whole is growing older.  Currently, 39.2% of its citizens are over the age of 50.  The NCDHHS/Div. of Aging estimates that by the year 2030 the population in Mitchell County will increase by a mere 2%; while all other age groups are predicted to de-cline, the size of the 65+ age group will have increased 187.7% over the current demographics for those age groups.  This means we will have a large group of potentially vulnerable citizens.  It is essential that there are services in place to deal with these issues and hopefully prevent them all together.

How can SafePlace help?

Services we will provide include:

• A Case Manager and part-time In-Home Advocate 
• Assistance to victims to secure agency services
• Assistance with obtaining unreimbursed medi-cations
• Providing financial and/or in-kind assistance
• In-home assistance to allow victims to remain safely in their own homes and reduce isolation
• Training for Meals on Wheels volunteers to spot elder abuse
• Providing referrals for mental health counsel-ing
• Fresh Start (a SafePlace jobs/education pro-gram) to provide employability classes
• Providing legal advocacy via an existing legal center
• Providing referrals to the Mitchell County Senior Citizens Center and the NC Council on Aging to obtain respite care for overburdened caregivers thus lessening the risk of neglect of abuse
• SafePlace Shelter Program can, as a last resort, provide emergency shelter

 

Call us today if you know someone who is being abused or if you would just like more information.