Violence in the Home: Multidisciplinary Perspectives by Karel Kurst-Swanger && Jacqueline L. Petcosky

Author:Karel Kurst-Swanger && Jacqueline L. Petcosky
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2003-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Substance abuse has been found to be a major risk factor in all types of elder abuse on many levels (Kosberg & Nahmiash, 1995). Substance abuse may be by the victims, the perpetrators, or both. Research has shown that abusive partners are more likely to be violent when using alcohol or drugs. It is not clear whether alcohol and drugs are associated with elder abuse because they decrease a perpetrator’s inhibitions or whether perpetrators use alcohol, drugs, or both to justify their actions. In addition, caregivers may begin to use or abuse alcohol or other drugs as a response to the stress of caregiving (Bradshaw & Spencer, 1999). Further, it has been noted that many elderly begin to abuse alcohol or substances later in life to cope with isolation and loneliness (Kosberg, 1998).

Elderly people themselves may also develop a substance-abuse problem in response to the aging process. The abuse of substances by an elderly person leaves him or her at greater risk of abuse and exacerbates a potentially abusive situation. The elderly who are immersed in self-neglect often have substance abuse or alcohol problems. Elderly people who abuse substances sustain more cognitive losses and physical disabilities, which make them easy targets for all types of abuse. These individuals also usually do not have good relationships with their families. A family member who has lost respect for an elderly person is more likely to abuse him or her. Moreover, an elderly person may even be forced to use or abuse alcohol (Bradshaw & Spencer, 1999).

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.