Rochelle Sibaja

Elder Abuse Lesson Plan (45 minutes)

Overview:
Topic: Elder Abuse
Setting: Internship Site
Audience: Adults

Instructional Objectives:
The participants will be able to correctly identify 3 warning signs of elder abuse
in the Case Study session.
The participants will be able to express concerns about elder abuse in a small
group discussion.
Participants are able to correctly at least 5 answers in the review in the game of
Quingo.

Focus Statement: (1 minute)

It is estimated that 1 in 10 older adults face some form of elder abuse. In 2009, there were about
39.6 million, which means over 3.9 million older adults were abused in some way. Since
medicine has improved life expectancy we only increase the number of older adult victims. We
need to erase ageism, so the number of victims can lower and hopefully assure that you, yourself
do not become a victim of this epidemic.

Power Points and Case Study (20 minutes)

Print out the Case Study/Answers and bring pencils/pens for the participant.

Power Point
-Ways Elders are Abused
Financial Abuse Stealing or mismanaging the money, property, or belongings of an older
person. Also called exploitation.
Psychological Abuse Causing emotional or psychological pain. Includes isolation, verbal
abuse, threats, and humiliation.
Neglect Failing to provide something necessary for health and safety, such as personal
care, food, shelter, or medicine.

Physical Abuse Using physical force to cause physical

pain or injury.
Rights Violations Confining someone against his will, or strictly controlling the elders
behavior. Includes improper use of restraints and medications to control difficult behaviors.
Sexual Abuse Forcing sexual contact without the elder persons consent, including touching
or sexual talk.
-Signs of Elder Abuse and Neglect
Personality and behavior changes:
1. Becoming withdrawn, unusually quiet, depressed, or shy.
2. Becoming anxious, worried, easily upset.
3. Refusing care from caregivers.
4. Not wanting to be around people, not wanting to see visitors.
Physical Signs:
1. Bruises or burns
2. In a woman, vaginal bleeding or bruising of the genitals or thighs
3. Fractures
4. Unreasonable or inconsistent explanations for injuries
5. Frequent emergency room visits
Signs of Possible Neglect:
1. Weight loss, malnutrition, or dehydration
2. Insufficient clothing, shoes, or basic hygiene items
3. Medications not filled or taken
4. Doctor visits not scheduled or kept
5. Unclean appearance or smell
6. Skin ulcers or sores
7. Declining health
-Give out Case Study Hand-Out
Tell the participants to read the hand-out and answer what abuse is being demonstrated.
(Preferably answering in a groups)

-How to Fight Elder Abuse

Talk about hotlines and how to avoid caregiver stress

Quingo (15 minutes)

Pass out the Quingo cards/Answers and ask the questions. When a person yells Quingo
check the answers. At the game make sure everyone understands the answers to the
questions.

Discussion (10 minutes)

Ask the participants their experience they have seen or experienced with ageism or elder
abuse. Also ask questions such as: their opinion on getting older and if they believe
ageism will diminish in the future. Use these to proctor and assure the group stays on
topic.

Case Study
What kind of abuse or neglect is happening in these stories?

Mr. Allen appears in the dining room in only his underwear. He is yelling that
someone has stolen his clothes. An attendant tries to steer him back to his room,
but he refuses to go. The attendant says, Mr. Allen, if you dont get dressed were
going to lock you in your room.

A threat is a type of

abuse.

Mrs. Maguire falls out of bed almost every night. She cant manage to raise
and lower bed rails without assistance, and she cant remember to use her call light.
The facility staff decides to use bed rails anyway so she wont fall out. Mrs. Maguire
is forced to stay in her bed all night and cant get up to the bathroom unless
someone comes and helps her.
Forced confinement is a type of

What is a better solution to this problem?

.
Mrs. Johnson receives infrequent visits from her son, but every time he comes
the staff notice fresh bruises on her arms within a day of his visit. Mrs. Johnson
insists they are nothing.
This might be

abuse.

What should be done?

Case Study Answers

1. Psychological
2. Rights Violation; (The second question is open-ended, but make sure the answers
are a healthy substitute)
3. Physical ( Open-ended, make sure the answers are a healthy substitute)

QUINGO ANSWERS
If you know of, or suspect, abuse or neglect of an elderly person in your
facility, you should first:
Report it to your supervisor.
A cause of abuse and neglect:

Caregiver stress
Threatening an elderly person with punishment for not doing what you tell
them to is:
Verbal abuse
Exploitation is a form of abuse that involves:
Financial assets.
Some good ways to help prevent abuse are:
Listening & Educating
Symptoms of possible abuse include the following:
Dementia & becoming withdrawn
Symptom of possible neglect include the following:
Lack hygiene items
Improper use of bedrails or other restraints is considered: Rights violation
Abuse and neglect will not occur if we remember that everyone has the
right to be treated with
respect
.

Stealing or mismanaging the money, property, or belongings of an older person. Also called
exploitation.
Financial Abuse
Causing emotional or psychological pain. Includes isolation, verbal abuse, threats, and
humiliation.
Psychological Abuse
Failing to provide something necessary for health and safety, such as personal care, food,
shelter, or medicine.
Neglect
Using physical force to cause physical pain or injury.
Physical Abuse
Confining someone against his will, or strictly controlling the elders behavior. Includes
improper use of restraints and medications to control difficult behaviors.
Rights Violations
Forcing sexual contact without the elder persons consent, including touching or sexual
talk.
Sexual Abuse

It is estimated that more than 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of abuse.

What are the two factors blamed for the prevalence of elder abuse in a 1985 workshop?
Ageism and violence.
Most victims are dependent on their abuser for basic needs.

Where does elder abuse most often take place?

home
Seniors who have been abused have a 300% higher risk of death in the next 3 years
compared to those who werent.
In almost 90% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member.
What is Elder Abuse?
Intended or careless harm to an older person
Are There Any Federal Laws Against Elder Abuse?
No
Should you report Elder Abuse?
Yes
How many incidents of elder abuse go unreported?
5 for every 1

Elder Abuse Quingo

1 in 10

Home

Physical
Abuse

Lack of
hygiene
items

300%

Dementia
&
Rights
becoming violation
withdrawn

Financial Financial Caregiver

assets
Abuse
stress

Freebie! Listening
Psychologica
Respect
&
l Abuse
Free Space Educating
Yes
Intended or
careless
harm to an
older person

Sexual
Abuse

Report it
5 for every
Rights
to your
Neglect
1
Violations
supervisor

No

Abuser

90%

Verbal
abuse

Elder Abuse Quingo

90%

Verbal
abuse

Dementia
Report it
Psychologica Rights
&
to your
l Abuse Violations becoming
supervisor
withdrawn
No

Financial
Abuse

Abuser

1 in 10

300%

Lack of
hygiene
items

Physical
Abuse

Financial
assets
Freebie!
Free Space

Listening &
Educating

Rights
violation

Yes

Home

Sexual
Abuse

Ageism &
violence

Neglect

5 for every
1

Intended
or careless
Respect harm to an
older
person

Elder Abuse Quingo

Physical
Abuse

Sexual
Abuse

5 for every
1

No

90%

Lack of
hygiene
items

Report it to
your
supervisor

Abuser

Verbal
abuse

Respect

Ageism & Financial Freebie! Financial Listening &

violence
Abuse Free Space assets
Educating

Yes

300%

1 in 10

Home

Intended
or careless
Caregiver Psychologica
harm to an
stress
l Abuse
older
person
Neglect

Rights
violation

Rights
Violations

Elder Abuse Quingo

Listening
&
Educating

Sexual
Abuse

Caregiver
stress

Respect

5 for every Rights

1
violation

Intended
or careless
harm to an
older
person

Home

Dementia
Financial
&
Abuse becoming
withdrawn
Report it
to your
supervisor

Abuser

Neglect

Verbal
abuse

Financial
assets

No

Freebie!

Ageism &
Free Space violence

300%

1 in 10

Psychologica
l Abuse

Yes

Physical
Abuse

Lack of
hygiene
items

Rights
Violations

Elder Abuse Quingo

Rights
violation
Report it
to your
supervisor
300%

Respect

Caregiver
stress

Listening
Financial
&
Abuse
Educating

Neglect

Abuser

5 for every Ageism &

1
violence

1 in 10

Freebie! Financial
Free Space assets

No

Psychologica
l Abuse

90%

Yes

Physical
Abuse

Home

Sexual
Abuse

Intended
or careless
Rights
harm to an
Violations
older
person
Verbal
abuse

Lack of
hygiene
items

Elder Abuse Quingo

No

Lack of
Listening
Psychologica
hygiene
&
Respect
l Abuse
items
Educating

1 in 10

Sexual
Abuse

Financial
Abuse

Rights
violation

Physical
Abuse

Freebie!

Ageism &
violence

Caregiver
stress

Free Space

Report it Dementia &

to your
becoming
supervisor withdrawn

Yes

90%

5 for every
1

Neglect

Rights
Violations

Abuser

Verbal
abuse

Intended or
careless
Financial
harm to an
assets
older person

300%