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(lewis, 2006) Available Research Indicates Two Facts That Help In Explaining ...

(Lewis, 2006)
Available research indicates two facts that help in explaining the development of negative attitudes towards elders, namely that (a) three out of five people who abuse older people are their adult children or their spouse or defacto partner, and that (b) those most vulnerable to being abused are people aged over 75 years. (Bergeron, 200) Abuse that emanates from people close to the victims stems from factors like family conflict, changes in emotional and financial priorities, as well as economic and social pressure. Erosion of bonds between family members occurs as children grow up and become financially independent and self-sufficient. This development inevitably accompanies the ageing of parents, the onset of physical frailty, and their diminished earning ability, as well as reduced economic power in the household. As the younger generation achieves parenthood and takes on additional emotional and financial responsibilities, the restructuring of family structure often ends in the relegation of elders to the status of dependants, reliant upon grown up children for physical, financial and emotional support. Changed priorities of the caregivers, most of whom are either children or spouses, often result in emotional and financial abuse, lack of medical necessities, neglect, and even abandonment of elders. While abandonment sometimes occurs because of children migrating to other cities, it also happens because of their moving into their own independent homes, followed by a gradual distancing of once close relationships. Aggravation in such situations sometimes also leads to physical violence. While sexual violence is rare in parent-children relationships, it is an acknowledged element of spousal abuse. Changed economic priorities and diminished loyalties lead to financial exploitation, embezzlement, deprivation of assets and consequent impoverishment of elders.
While a number of socio-economic reasons are causal in the development of elder abuse, it becomes possible only because of the irreversibility of old age, which brings with it physical and mental frailty, loss of capacity, increased dependence upon others, diminished earning and economic power, and enhanced requirement of medical and physical assistance. The consequent increase in the vulnerability of elders empowers and emboldens caregivers to indulge in acts of abuse without fear of retribution.
Social censure and ostracism help in restraining and controlling elder abuse, especially at the hands of family members and spouses. The relationship between family members, and the connotations of ingratitude and selfishness, invariably linked to elder abuse, shames people from committing such acts. The role of stress, suffered by the caregiver is also an important component of the emotional reasons that lead to manifestation of elder abuse.

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