Quick Elder Abuse Stats

UC Irvine’s Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect produced a simple fact sheet covering common abuse statistics among elderly persons suffering from dementia.  The sheet (the pdf can be found by clicking here) draws upon a variety of studies to reach its conclusions.  A few important points:

How often are caregivers abusive to people with dementia?

• Three international studies found overall rates of abuse of people with dementia by their caregivers ranging from 34 to 62% (3, 4 & 5).
• In a U.S. study, caregiver abuse and neglect of people with dementia by their caregivers was detected in 47% of caregivers surveyed (6)….

What type of abuse is most reported by U.S. caregivers of people with dementia?

• One study shows 60% of caregivers had been verbally abusive with the person for whom they were providing care (7).
• Between 5 and 10% of caregivers reported that they were physically abusive toward the care recipients (6 & 8).

We’ve done plenty of reporting on elder abuse in the past.  Abuse of those suffering with dementia is particularly tragic.  Elderly persons in nursing homes have a hard enough time reporting abuses, but those suffering from dementia have virtually no recourse.  If they can even remember the abuse long enough to tell family or friends, will those people believe them?  It is a dangerous situation, and these statistics are a terrifying sign of how easily these vulnerable members of society are abused.