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Native American Elder Abuse Online Interactive Educational Modules
“RestoringrespectanddignitybyhonoringIndigenouselders”
SloanHenry,B.S.ProjectCoordinator- NIEJI
2016 National Indian Council on Aging Conference
NationalIndigenousElderJusticeInitiative
Objectives
vBriefoverviewtypesofelderabuse.vTheorybehindelderabuse.vKnowwhatmakeseldersvulnerable.vAddressingElderabuseinIndianCountry.vPurposeandgoalsforOnlineEducationaltrainingmodules.
vPreviewofGatewayandFinancialmodules.
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What is Elder Abuse?
vNationalCenteronElderAbuse
“Anyknowing,intentional,ornegligentactbyacaregiveroranyotherpersonthatcausesharmoraseriousriskofharmtoavulnerableadult.”
What types of elder abuse?
vPhysicalAbusevSexualAbusevEmotional/PsychologicalAbusevNeglectvFinancialExploitationvSelf-NeglectvSpiritualAbuse
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Poly-victimizationWhenanelderisharmedthroughmultipleco-occurringorsequentialtypesofelderabusebyoneormoreperpetrators,orexperiencesonetypeofabuseperpetratedbymultiplepeopleinatrustrelationshipwiththeelder.v Multiplevictimization
Whenanelderisabusedinthesamewayrepeatedlybymorethanoneperson(repeatedverbalabuse).
v Multi-facetedAbuseWhenanelderreceivesmorethanonetypeofabuseoveraperiodoftime(emotional/psychological,physical,neglect,spiritual)
v Hybrid ElderAbuseWhenaneldersuffersfromacombinationofmultipletypesofabuseandmultipleabusers.
v Co-Occuring formsofElderAbuseWhenanelderreceivesmorethanonetypeofabuseatonce(emotional/psychological,physical,neglect,spiritual)
Why does elder abuse happen?
vOpportunisticActvPremeditatedandcalculatedvPrejudicesvEnvironmentvIgnorancevLackofskillsvLackofexternalsupport
http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/mainpages/Abuse/abuse_why.html
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What causes elder abuse?
CaregiverStressModelsaysElderAbuseisduetostressassociatedwithprovidingcareandassistancetofrail,highlydependentelderlypeople.vDoesn’tfitallcases!
Whatmakeseldersvulnerable?vTrustingnaturevPerceivedtobeeasytofoolorconvHavesteadysourceofincomevIsolation
Why Are Elders Vulnerable?v HealthStatus
Ø “vulnerabledecision-makers”Ø LimitedphysicalmobilityØ LimitedindependenceØ VisualImpairmentØ HearingLossØ Depression
v CognitiveAbilityØ Decreasedinformationprocessing/problem-solvingØ DecliningMemoryØ Difficultyreading/understandingproductlabelsØ Difficultyinterpretingcomparativeinformationfordecisionmaking.
• Kim,Eun-Jin,andLorenGeistfeld.2008.Whatmakesolderadultsvulnerabletoexploitationorabuse? TheForumforFamilyandConsumerIssues,13(1).
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Why Are Elders Vulnerable?
vSocialNetworkØLesssocialintegration,morestressØSocialIsolationbecauseofpoorhealth,retirement,lossofspouse&friends.
ØLessfriendsupportwithageduetomortalityØRelyonretailers/serviceprovidersasasourceofsocialsupport.
ØLackofsocialsupportresultsinsusceptibilitybecausenowaytovalidateinformation.
•Kim,Eun-Jin,andLorenGeistfeld.2008.Whatmakesolderadultsvulnerabletoexploitationorabuse? TheForumforFamilyandConsumerIssues,13(1).
Health Effects of Elder Abuse
} Increased Mortality◦ Lachs et al. 1998, Dong et al. 2009
} Poorer physical outcomes (probable)◦ American Medical Association 1990; Anetzberger 2004; Lindbloom et al.
2007
� Increased pain� Exacerbation of existing conditions� Welts, wounds, injuries� Increased susceptibility to infection
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Financial Effects of Elder Abuse
v Restitution often not forthcoming or too latev No time to rebuild assetsv Loss of choices for older adult; loss of
independencev Reliance on others for financial support
v More quickly spending down to Medicaid
High Risk Situations
People with inadequately treated mental health and / or substance abuse problems are more likely to be abusive
People who feel stressed / burdened / resentful are more likely to be abusive
Providing care for an older adult who is physically combative and/or verbally abusive
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Identifying Problems and Concerns
v TheNationalCenteronElderAbuse(NCEA,2005),estimatedthatforeveryreportedcaseofelderabuse,14caseswillgounreported.
v LittleisknownabouthowwidespreadelderabuseisinIndianCountry.
vNoinfrastructureorcoordinatedsystemscurrentlyinplaceforprevention,protection,andsupportfortheelder.
vUnderstandingofwhatconstituteselderabuseisdifficult,asmanyeldersmayonlyconsidervictimizationasphysicalabuse,increasingrisksofotherformsofabuse.
NIEJI’s Intended Purpose
vGeneralconsensusthatpeoplemaynotknowwhatconstituteselderabuseorneglect.
vProduceinformationonhowtodefineandrecognizeelderabuseinIndianCountry.
v EducateEVERYONE onelderabuseandneglect,andlearnwaysonhowtohelppreventit.
vCreationofculturallyrelevantmaterialsprovidingviewerswithtrainingtoolsandinformationaboutelderabuseandneglect.Specificallygearedforformalandinformalcareproviders,lawenforcement,andeldersthemselves.
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Online Interactive Educational Modules
v OnJune15th 2016,NIEJIlaunchedtheNativeAmericanElderAbuseOnlineInteractiveEducationalModules.Availableatwww.nieji.org
v DesignedforprofessionaldisciplinesworkingwithandcaringforNativeEldersinavarietyofsettings.– Elder– Caregiving– SocialServices– Financial– Legal– Policy– Healthcare
Interactive Icons
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Current Training Modules
v OnlineeducationalmodulesonElderAbuseandNeglectarelocatedontheNIEJIwebsite:– Werecommenduserswatchthe“Elder”feathericonfirstasthisisanintroductiontoallothermodules.
– Threecompletedtrainingsforprofessionalsineldercarefields;SocialServices,Financial,andCaregivers.
– WearecurrentlyworkingontrainingmodulesforPolicy,Legal,andHealthCareworkers.
Online Interactive Educational Modules
v ModulescontainsvaluableinformationtogainculturalunderstandingandbestpracticesinthevariousdisciplinesaddressingelderabuseandneglectinIndianCountry.
v EachtrainingmoduleincludesaimsandlearningobjectivesforprofessionalsworkingcloselywithNativeAmericanelders.
v Includedarewaystoidentifypotentialsignsandriskfactorsforelderabuseandneglect,andhowtoreportsuspectedabusetoproperauthorities.
v AlsoincludedareculturallyappropriatepracticessuchasuseoflanguagewhileworkingwithNativeAmericanelders.AllofwhichwillhelptheprofessionaltoaddresstheseconcernsinarespectfulmannerwhichadherestoNativeAmericantraditionalbeliefsandpractices.
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NIEJI- Online Educational Modules
vLetswatchtheNIEJI- ElderAbuseonlineeducationalmodule!!!!!– https://www.nieji.org/training/elder-abuse/
vLetswatchFinancialonlineeducationalmodule!!!!!
Certificates of Completion
vIncludedisacertificateofcompletionattheendofeacheducationalmodule.
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For More Information
National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative
Phone:701-777-6780Toll-freeNumber:855-834-1572
[email protected]:www.nieji.org
ThankYou!Miigwitch!