what do u think about abuse of old people?

Question

give me your opinions and feelings of abuse on older people!!! (the elderly)

Answer 1

Lady, on the one hand, it's horrible to neglect or abuse ANYONE, but especially to do so those who can't defend themselves, like children and elders. Elders have created the ground we, their children, walk on - they deserve our respect and our caring.

That said, reports about abuse can be very misleading. Here are a couple real life examples of 'abuse' citiations for nursing homes. (1) Coloring books and crayons were kept in the recreation room. Residents were free to go to the room and color whenever they wished -- or never if they didn't want to. The home was fined for 'treating them like children.' (2) One resident's hobby was making elaborate doll clothes for an 18" doll. She enjoyed putting on 'fashion shows' for anyone who would watch. The home was cited for allowing this, and instructed to remove the lady's dolls and all the doll clothes. Again, the rationale was that we must not 'treat them like children'.

Wierd but true. In my own opinion, the way to show respect and dignity to these elders would be to let them choose for themselves whether to color, to dress dolls. Making the decision for them WAS treating them like children, but I'm not the state board of elder abuse, I'm just a humble nurse.

But my point is that you shouldn't be overly alarmed by statistics like "one third of nursing homes are found guilty of neglect or abuse" ... since the 'abuse' can be as trivial as having some crayons around.

Answer 2

This is so sad. It happens everywhere and it angers me. My opinion is that nursing homes, family members etc are seeing the elderly, the same person who took care of them while they were growing up, as a burden. There should be a law that protects the elderly, a special law just for elderly abuse.

Answer 3

Abuse of anyone is horrible. I work as an RN in a nursing home. I tolerate no abuse from t he aides under my supervision, and have reported aides to the DON for abuse. I don't believe in sexual, emotional, physical, verbal or any other kind of abuse from anyone toward anyone. Why do you ask? Do you abuse others? If you see someone abusing the elderly and do not report it, you are just as responsible and can be sued as an accessory.

Answer 4

It is so incredibly sad. A lot of older people are in homes because the quality of life is terrible for them in the first place. It's shameful how our society discards our elderly like used and worthless trash.

Answer 5

Abuse period is wrong.
But the abuse of the elderly and children (and the mentally & physically disabled -which is also a problem) is particuarly wrong as they are pretty much totally unable to defend theirselves.

Answer 6

Abuse of the elderly is like all other abuse WRONG. It's bad and should neither be tolerated nor go unpunished.

Answer 7

This is a crime against humanity - an unspeakable horror. Anyone who could harm an elderly person (even if they are not nice people) is an animal of the lowest form.

Answer 8

It is wrong to abuse anyone. It is wrong to abuse children and old people and anyone in between. Do you honestly think someone is going to say in their answer, "Oh, I think it is just dandy to abuse older people?" No person has a right to abuse another person. Period.

Answer 9

It think it is despicable but we have sadistic ppl that get through the system and end up working with the vulnerable that can't help themselves it happens in all types of places institutes for the mentally ill, hospitals, ect.

Answer 10

i love old people. i think they shouldn't be mistreated especially since we do not/ can not ever fully understand y they do and say the things they do and say b/c we didn't grow up in the same environments as they did. we could never comprehend the things they have been thru and it's wrong to judge and mistreat them just b/c we don't understand where they are coming from with their actions and thoughts.