What are the causes and symptoms of elder abuse?
Elder abuse is admittedly a complex problem that can be caused by many factors. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, “social isolation and mental impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease) are two factors that may make an older person more vulnerable to abuse.” Studies show that people advanced in years, such as in their eighties, with a high level of frailty and dependency are more likely to be victims of elder abuse than people who are younger and better equipped to stand up for themselves. Because spouses make up a large percentage of elder abusers, at least 40% statistically, some research has been done in the area, which shows that a pattern of domestic violence is associated with many of the cases. The risk of elder abuse appears to be especially high when adult children live with their elderly parents for financial reasons or because they have personal problems, such as drug dependence or mental illness. Some experts have speculated that elderly people living in rural
