Elder abuse, from physical harm to financial exploitation, is far more common than you might think: Natasha Pietrocola

Elder abuse operates in the shadows, often involving seniors who are isolated and family members who may neglect or exploit relatives they should be protecting. The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND -- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is tomorrow. It was conceived on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and recognized in 2011 by the U.N. General Assembly.

The day provides an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of the abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse. In addition, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is held in support of the U.N. International Plan of Action, acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue.

This observance serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Natasha Pietrocola is deputy administrator of the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services.

Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year. A 2003 study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse are reported to authorities.

Abusers are both women and men. In almost 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member.

In Cuyahoga County, adult protective services is one of the programs available at the Division of Senior and Adult Services. We have the authority to investigate allegations of those 60 and older who reside in a community setting when there is an impairment and an allegation of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and/or exploitation present warranting such action. We conduct many investigations where there are multiple allegations.

Types of abuse and what they entail include:

· Physical abuse - inflicting physical pain or injury upon an older adult. It also includes unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment with resulting physical harm.

· Sexual abuse - touching, fondling, intercourse, or any other sexual activity with an older adult, when the older adult is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened, or physically forced.

· Emotional abuse - verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation.

· Neglect / Self-neglect - when a caregiver, or the adult themself, fails to provide an older adult (or themself) with life’s necessities, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. Neglect can occur unintentionally and also include willful deprivation where there is purposeful denying to an older adult needed medication, medical care, shelter, food, a therapeutic device, or other physical assistance, and an exposing of that person to the risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm — except when the older, competent adult has expressed a desire to go without.

· Financial exploitation - the unlawful or improper act of a person using, in one or more transactions, an adult’s resources for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain when the person obtained or exerted control over the adult’s resources without consent or by deception, threat or intimidation.

You may wonder what makes an older adult more susceptible to abuse. We know that social isolation and mental impairment (such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease ) are two factors. Recent studies show that nearly half of those with dementia experienced abuse or neglect. Interpersonal violence also occurs at disproportionately higher rates among adults with disabilities.

Elders who have been abused have a 300% higher risk of death when compared to those who have not been mistreated. While likely underreported, estimates of elder financial abuse and fraud costs to older Americans range from $2.9 billion to $36.5 billion annually. Yet, financial exploitation is self-reported at rates higher than emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect.

If you suspect an older adult is being subjected to elder abuse, please contact our centralized intake at (216) 420-6700 or by visiting our website at dsas.cuyahogacounty.us to make a report. We can all make a difference in combating this public health concern that affects so many of our older citizens.

Natasha Pietrocola is deputy administrator of the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services.

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Elder abuse, from physical harm to financial exploitation, is far more common than you might think: Natasha Pietrocola