According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, elder abuse has increasingly become a problem in North America, with caregiver neglect, psychological and physical abuse and financial abuse the most common forms. Proper elder abuse resources, however, can not only educate caregivers and health care professionals but family members as well so that they will know how to spot the signs of abuse and know when to intervene.

Types of Elder Abuse Resources

There are many resources that the elderly or those close to them can turn to if they are the victims of or suspect abuse; however, in many cases if an elderly individual is being abused, they are too isolated to seek help for themselves. If you suspect someone you know is the victim of elder abuse be sure you speak out on their behalf. Talk to someone who can take them to a hospital for a physical examination or file a complaint with the proper authorities. In most cases, a social worker or any medical practitioner will be required to file a police report due to mandatory reporting laws, which means an investigation will ensue to protect the person's safety.

If you are visiting an elderly friend or relative, be receptive and listen seriously to any complaints they have. Take notice of unusual bruising or behavior that indicates fear of their caregiver. If you suspect abuse, contact your local agency on aging and ask them to put you in touch with appropriate elder abuse resources in your area.

Educational Materials

There are also elder abuse resources that are preventative in nature that are valuable for both professional caregivers and family caregivers. These types of resources include educational materials such as books, DVD's and coursework that give individuals the knowledge and skills needed to cope with the everyday stress and sometimes overwhelming challenges of providing long-term care for the elderly.

Prevention is crucial with today's increasingly aging population. According to the National Institutes on Aging, the age group 85 and older is now the fastest growing segment of the United States population! Add to that the fact that the population of people over age 65 is expected to double in the next twenty-five years, and the potential for elder abuse is staggering. By 2030, there will be 72 million Americans over 65 years of age.

Educating caregivers will protect future generations as well as today's elderly. The more educated today's caregivers are, the more valuable information they can pass on to the next generation of caregivers.

The best elder abuse resources for educational purposes will combine a balance of topics, including the various forms that abuse and how to recognize the signs as well as how to prevent and cope with the abuse. The information should be backed by research and information provided by recognized experts in the field of elder abuse.

Finding Good Elder Abuse Resources

No educational program on elder abuse should leave out information on:

1: What ageism is and its effect on the elderly.

2: The pattern of family violence and why it often escalates when an elderly family member is the target.

3: Alcohol and drug abuse and their affect on both caretakers and the elderly.

4: The complications caused by financial difficulties when caring for the elderly.

5: Caregiver stress and how to alleviate it before it manifests itself in elder abuse.

By learning more about the serious problem of elder abuse and its repercussions as well as the overwhelming impact it has on the victims, including declining health, depression and possible suicide, caregivers and family members will treat elder abuse with the attention it deserves. Educational elder abuse resources can be the first step toward bringing this problem into the light and protecting our senior citizens in their last few decades.