According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Crime Prevention Council, safety and security of the elderly population is a big concern today. The baby boomer era is now becoming the seniors of today and these seniors are growing in numbers each and every year.
It’s only natural that as this senior citizen population continues to grow, they will need more attention and care than ever before. As adults age we find that their children or other family members are the ones generally left with the responsibility of caring for them.
Today we have seen an increasing rate of criminal activity in society. Those who are older (elderly) are more prone to being a victim of a crime then someone who is younger. That’s because the older population is not as fast as they used to be, their reaction times are slower and most often they just don’t have the physical strength to defend themselves appropriately.
While the elderly can be the victim of a crime just as easily as anyone else they are more likely to be victims of:
- Physical Abuse
- Fraud
- Financial Exploitation
- Neglect
- Abandonment
- Sexual Assaults
Our seniors go through life issues just like everyone else. Some may feel extremely lonely while others may actually have no one in their life to turn to and so they are literally all alone. Not to mention that as people age comprehension in some ways slows down or seniors may have diminished eye sight or hearing. All of these factors makes them an easier target when it comes to crime. In addition some seniors may actually contribute to their own downfall by unintentionally neglecting themselves. For example, if a patient is suffering from mild dementia and forgets to take their medication then they are affecting their overall health and well-being.
Know the signs to look for when it comes to your loved one and crime.
Physical Abuse
Signs of physical abuse are usually very noticeable and include:
- Bruises
- Broken Bones
- Severe Sprains or Dislocations
- Wounds or Punctures
- Burns
While these don’t necessarily pinpoint abuse they do warrant looking into to determine the causes.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse can be just as devastating as physical abuse. In some cases emotional abuse can be worse because it is literally tearing the person down emotionally until they are completely vulnerable and helpless.
Signs of emotional abuse include:
- Extremely upset and/or agitated on a regular basis
- Withdrawn
- Doesn’t Communicate with Others Much
- Odd Behavior
When it comes to emotional abuse, caregivers want to look for things that are abnormal. With physical abuse you can clearly see the damage but with emotional abuse it takes paying attention to the senior citizen and looking for oddities in that person’s demeanor, behaviors and actions.
Neglect/Abandonment
Neglect and abandonment is one of the most widely report areas when it comes to elder abuse. Sings include:
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Bed Sores
- Extremely Poor Personal Hygiene
The care for an elderly person is often challenging, time consuming as well as emotionally and physically draining for the care giver. Leaving a senior to live on their own brings about worry for their safety and trying to find time to constantly check in on them in order to make sure they are ok.
This is where senior assisted living comes in. Assisted living today provides more of an opportunity to live a quality life than ever before. When you say assisted living some people think of an old, run down facility where their loved one will be placed in a wheel chair and pushed to the side; no one paying attention to them and making them feel dehumanized. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Putting your loved one in an assisted living facility is a major decision. However today’s facilities like the ones at Discovery Village, provide seniors with exceptional care and services to enhance their life.
From amazing and nutritious meals to daily activities, assisted living has everything today’s seniors need to still feel independent but with quality care there for them 24 hours a day; 7 days a week. Assisted living helps ease the mind of loved ones because they know their family member is well cared for and will be safe from harm. These facilities are closely monitored because the safety and well-being of the residents is a priority. That peace of mind is priceless.
Rittenhouse Village At Muhlenberg provides a range of senior living programs to help support a healthy and happy lifestyle for our residents. We also offer several senior living options for our residents to choose from. Contact us today at 610.208.8890 for more information.
