1.For this activity post you should post a reaction to the elder abuse scenarios completed this week. Specifically, did you think each one was abuse and of what type? What actions would you take if this was happening to someone you knew?

This chapter addresses the issue of elder abuse. For this activity, you are to read the following scenarios and determine whether it is considered elder abuse and indicate what type (physical, financial, etc.). You should also describe what you would do if you knew this was happening to someone you knew. In these scenarios, we’ll assume that you aren’t a mandated reporter (someone who is required to report elder abuse due to their professional obligations):

2.

Case 1

Alice, 75, a widow, lived in a small apartment with her son, Frank, 54. Frank had been in and out of drug and alcohol treatment centers for years, but was doing well for the last six months since he moved back in with his mother. Alice knew her son had nowhere else to go so she took him in under two conditions: he had to find a job and he could not drink.

Frank found a job and things seemed to be going well until he stopped coming home right after work. Alice knew he was stopping at the corner bar because she could smell the alcohol on his breath. The third time this happened, Alice confronted her son. Frank immediately became belligerent, verbally abusing her and forcing her to go to her room. The next night Alice confronted him again threatening to throw him out if he continued to drink. Frank became enraged and started running toward his mother with his fist raised over his head. Fearing for her life, Alice fled to the safety of her neighbor’s house.

Case 2

Carol, 24, divorced, lived on the second floor of an apartment with her two young children. Living below her on the first floor was Beatrice, 86, a nice old lady who didn’t leave her apartment very often because of her arthritic knees and poor eyesight. Carol and her children visited Beatrice frequently and often helped with her laundry in exchange for occasional babysitting. Beatrice loved their company.

Every Saturday, Carol offered to do the grocery shopping for Beatrice. Because she could not do it herself, Beatrice was happy to accept Carol’s help. Carol thought it was okay to keep $20 of the change each week because she was taking the time and trouble to help Beatrice; although, she was never offered any money. Carol thought Beatrice would never realize the money was missing because of her poor eyesight.

Case 3

Mr. P. is an 85 year old man who receives care from his daughter after suffering a series of strokes. His daughter, Barb, and he have always had a stormy relationship and she blames him for putting her in the “nuthouse” when she was a teenager. Barb forbids outside help from assisting her father and none of his friends and neighbors have seen him outside his house for the past six months. They hear yelling and loud noises coming from the house but nobody wants to get involved. Barb is driving a new car and appears to be wearing very expensive jewelry during the brief visits she makes with her father