Can Caregiver Stress lead to Elder Abuse?
Each year in the United States, millions of cases of
violence against older adults are reported and the problem is only increasing.
Elder abuse can have devastating side effects including
severe injury, loss of dignity and independence, loss of financial security,
and even death. Research shows elderly victims of abuse have shorter life spans
than non-abused seniors even in the absence of chronic conditions or terminal
illness.
Like many other forms of violence, elder abuse is a complex
problem that is surrounded by misconceptions. While most people think elder
abuse is confined to nursing home and institutional settings, the fact is that 95% of violence against the
elderly takes place at home at the hands of adult children, spouses, and other
relatives.
Can caregiver stress lead to
elder abuse?
Approximately 28.7% of the US population, or 65.7 million
Americans, serve as unpaid caregivers to family members. Family caregivers
account for 80% of at-home care and typically devote an average of 20 hours per
week to elder care, performing a range of activities from housekeeping to
nursing duties.
While studies estimate that family members account for 65%
to 90% of elder abuse cases, it is not clear how many of these family members
are caregivers. Some research suggests 5% to 23% of all caregiver are physically
abusive and agree that the stresses of providing care contribute to increased
instances of violence.
Caring for an older adult, especially a person of advanced
age or with multiple chronic conditions can be an intensely rewarding yet
stressful endeavor. Many caregivers find themselves in poor health as a result
of their responsibilities, and consequently, stressors can potentially trigger
harmful behaviors that place seniors at risk for abuse.
When under intense amounts of anxiety and pressure, the
body’s flight or fight response kicks in to protect itself. The body goes on
“high alert”, speeding up essential functions like heart rate and respiration
while shutting down the immune system. While moderate amounts of stress are
normal, chronic stress can cause fatigue and burnout, rendering caregiver to
face a slew of mental health and physical problems including irritability,
depression, and infection.
What risk factors are
associated with caregiver stress and elder abuse?
The American Psychological Association suggests a
caregiver’s personal problems may predispose them to violent behavior.
Caregiver’s who suffer from mental illness, alcohol or drug addiction, or
another personal crisis such as job loss or bankruptcy may abuse frail,
vulnerable seniors as a way to solve their problems. A past history of a poor
relationship between the caregiver and care recipient can also contribute to
more stress.
In the face of caregiver stress, many caregivers do not
receive adequate information about how to balance personal needs with those of
a loved one. Unarmed with proper coping skills, caregivers who feel trapped and
hopeless resort to using force to manage the situation. Some caregivers report
specific behaviors of the care recipient are more likely to trigger them, among
those are wandering, combativeness, incontinence.
What are the warning signs to
watch for?
Research shows that caregivers who may be at risk for
committing harmful behavior:
• Fear that he or she will
become violent
• Report having low self
esteem
• View caregiving as a
burden and report to have little help from others
• Experience burnout or
depression
• Have unresolved anger or
resentment towards to care recipient
How can elder abuse by
caregivers be prevented?
Although the link between caregiver stress and elder abuse
is not yet fully understood, utilizing the following prevention strategies can
help ameliorate caregiver violence.
• Find a support group –
In-person and online support groups can help caregivers find social support and
information as to how to manage difficult behaviors and negative feelings
surrounding caregiving.
• Identify “triggers” – Act as an
“outside observer” and begin to notice what situations or behaviors trigger
your anxiety. Learning to understand your triggers is key to reducing stress.
• Use tools to find peace of mind –
Digital tools can capture such comprehensive information about a senior’s care,
assisting caregivers in identifying patterns that contribute to increase
stress. For example, with the use of a real-time care tracking tool caregivers
can document eating behaviors along with mood and toileting patterns. If a
caregiver can see how incontinence is related to food intake, medication
management or another variable, the caregiver can more effectively manage
stress and devise an intervention.
• Seek respite care – Respite
programs provide paid personnel of volunteers to sub-in while caregivers get a
break.
• Cultivate health and wellness –
Regular exercise, healthy diet, and adequate rest can help caregivers cope with
the stresses of caregiving. Making time for relaxation and self-care is equally
important.
• Work with a care manager – Care
managers can help coordinate services that match with a care recipient’s needs.
A geriatric care manager can intervene if problems arise and conduct routine
assessment to remove some obligations from the caregiver’s shoulders.
February 6, 2013 by Melody
Wilding
Source: http://www.caregivingcoalition.org/2013/02/06/can-caregiver-stress-lead-...
http://blog.ecaring.com/can-caregiver-stress-lead-to-elder-abuse/
