Table of Contents

About This Course

1. Introduction to Elder Abuse
2. The Basics of Elder Abuse
3. Substance Use and Other Risk Factors
4. Screening and Assessment
5. Intervention and Treatment
6. Preventing Elder Abuse

Supplements
Case Studies
References
Resources

Out of the Shadows
Uncovering Substance Use and Elder Abuse

Decreasing Social Isolation

One of the greatest risk factors for abuse is social isolation.

Older adults with larger social networks and activities are at lower risk of abuse and neglect. (See A Month of Caring for ideas on what you can do to counteract the isolation of older age and show older people you care.)

Many local, State, and Federal programs can help older adults remain active contributors to society. The U.S. Administration on Aging can direct families to resources on the following issues and other concerns:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Housing
• Transportation
• Nutrition
• Legal assistance

One way for older adults to stay connected is through volunteering. Some activities involve helping other seniors, thereby reducing their risk of abuse. The National Senior Service Corps is a national network placing older volunteers in assignments in their communities. Programs include:

• Foster Grandparent Program, which links senior volunteers to children who need their help.
• The Senior Companion Program, which places its volunteers with adults needing extra assistance to live in the community, such as frail older persons.
• The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the Nation, engaging older adults in neighborhood watch programs, tutoring, renovating homes, teaching English to immigrants, assisting victims of natural disasters, and performing other activities.
• Special Volunteer Program -- Homeland Security helps volunteers engage in activities to make their communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any kind of disaster.

Local senior citizens or community centers, religious centers, and other organizations may provide recreational and other activities to help older adults stay healthy and active.

Increasing Money Management Skills

Older people who cannot manage their finances are at risk for elder abuse. Daily money management (DMM) programs can help protect seniors from family members, acquaintances, and predators who seek to exploit them. DMM programs help older adults pay bills, prepare checks for signature, make bank deposits, and dispense cash. Public agencies as well as private, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations may offer programs and enlist the services of accountants, home care workers, bookkeepers, social workers, volunteers, private fiduciaries, nurses, and others.

DMM programs are preventive because the programs can eliminate opportunities for abuse by helping older adults arrange automatic deposits and remove their names from telemarketing lists. The National Center on Elder Abuse has created a manual on Daily Money Management programs.