Case Studies of Elder Abuse

Mrs. L. is 80 years old. She has some health problems and recently she has been having problems getting around. A year ago, her daughter Susan, 54, came to live with her. Things were going well until Susan lost her job. She has been unable to find another, and has become increasingly dependent on her mother. She started drinking excessively and spends hours in front of the TV. This angers Mrs. L. and has led to arguments between the two women. Recently, the arguments have been getting physical, with Susan pushing and hitting Mrs. L. The other day, Mrs. L. found out that Susan has been taking large sums of money out of their joint account. Mrs. L. is upset and frightened that confronting Susan will make her angrier.

Mr. and Mrs. P. used their savings to buy a duplex ten years ago, with an apartment for them and one for their married daughter, Sarah, and her family. Relations were amicable until Mr.P. died about two years ago. Mrs. P. is now 75 years old, with a heart condition. Since Mr. P.’s death, Sarah has been going out a great deal and leaving the care of the children and the housework to Mrs.P. She also insisted that Mrs. P. begin paying rent for her apartment, and that Mrs. P. buy expensive gifts for the children with her pension money. When Mrs. P. objected, Sarah instructed the children not to speak to her, and Mrs. P. was ignored for a week. Mrs. P. is unhappy with her treatment, but fears rejection and abandonment if she does not comply.

Mr. J. is an 85 year old resident of a nursing home. None of his relatives bother to visit. He is forgetful and easily confused, and is often resistant to the regular routines around bathing, dressing and feeding. He will yell, hit and kick the staff when they try to dress him, and he gets very agitated when they force him to take a shower. This behaviour frustrates the staff. One worker, in particular, becomes very angry with Mr. J. and has begun slapping him when he does not cooperate. The other day, this worker restrained Mr. J. in a chair, and continued to hit him even after he was restrained.