Hello everyone! Happy Friday! Today is Haiku Friday but I don’t have a haiku for you. 😦 I got back last night from a mini vacation and didn’t have the time or energy to prepare one––sorry. My sister, Kathleen came down from NYC for a few days and since we both have birthdays this week we decided to go down to the Florida Keys. We had three marvelous days of swimming, kayaking, fishing, and generally celebrating our birthdays. We had a great time but I’m exhausted. We have plans of continuing to celebrate our birthdays here in Miami until she leaves on Sunday. 😉
I wrote a guest post about elderly abuse a couple of months ago and I had plans to post it on my blog eventually, so that day has come. Today I will share that post with you. It’s an issue that I care about and that more people should be made aware of.
Elder Abuse
I’ve written on the subject of abuse and bullying on many occasions on my blog but I don’t think I’ve ever specifically addressed the abuse of the elderly. This is obviously an important subject that’s too often overlooked.
Words cannot describe how much I love my maternal grandmother. She passed away years ago but there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her. I can’t imagine someone abusing my sweet, kindhearted ‘granny’ in any way. Sadly, there are plenty of grandparents being abused on a daily basis.
Elder abuse happens to men and women, in all ethnic, social and economic groups.
And while a lot of media attention has been given to stories of elder abuse by caregivers in private homes, the truth is that anyone can be guilty of committing elder abuse, including family members.
Elder abuse is generally divided into the following categories:
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Domestic violence
Psychological Abuse – The willful infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, or other verbal or nonverbal conduct. This includes threatening to put them in a home if they don’t act the way you’d like them to.
Financial Abuse – The illegal or improper use of an older person’s funds, property, or resources.
Neglect – The failure of the caregiver, and that could be the spouse, son, daughter or grandson/daughter, to fulfill his or her care giving responsibility. Is it abusive to not call or visit your elderly parents for months at a time? I’d say yes.
We shouldn’t forget that every day we grow older. No one gets any younger and one day we will be the elderly. We will no longer have the speed, agility or strength we have now. Our bodies will grow weaker, our minds will become foggy, our vision cloudy . . . Would you like someone to take advantage of that? How would you feel if you were discarded because you were no longer young?
Elder abuse is a substantial subgroup of Family Violence. It may be more widespread than thought. Awareness of its occurrence is a first step in halting its progression.
♥
What a beautiful post and poem Vashti. And a very happy Birthday to you.
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Staci! I’m happy you enjoyed the post. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
I hope you and your sister enjoyed your birthday and thanks for this post. Very important topic. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re very welcome, Olga. My sister and I had a blast at the Keys which are a group of small islands off of Florida. My sister had a lot of firsts this week. It was her first time at the Keys, her first time on a kayak, and her first time eating conk fritters. Ha, ha! 😉
LikeLike
Vashti — belated wishes for a very happy birthday! ❤
Thank you for sharing this poem. The world is overflowing with so many forms of bullying. Too many people ignore the fact that it exists. Thank you for being willing to address it. Hugs! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Teagan! I love this poem. It was my pleasure to share it, so you’re very welcome. Hugs&Kisses ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
A distressing subject matter well covered Vashti 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is distressing but people need to be made aware. Thank you. 🙂
LikeLike
Happy Birthday Vashti. I love the Florida Keys (especially Key West). Been there a few times. Wish I could have joined you and your sister.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Hugh! Key West is awesome, it’s its own little country. 😉 The Keys are a great escape. We would have had an even bigger blast with you along! 😀 Thank you! You have a great week too! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Birthday, my friend!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dave! 😀 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome, Vashti! I hope your day was amazing. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great share hope you enjoyed your special day and this post touched me because I currently take care of my grandma who has Alzheimer’s and in the past I have worried about someone treating her poorly, luckily I have wonderful home attendants that help me care for her 🙂
LikeLike
Hello! Thank you so much! I’m glad the post was helpful. It takes a very special person to care for an Alzheimer’s patient, even if that patient is your beloved grandma. It seems your grandma is in good hands––she is blessed. I’m glad you’ve got help. ❤
LikeLike
Thanks Vashti I’m blessed to have them too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this poem. i’ve seen it before Elder abuse is very worthy of a post. Before we know it, we’ll all be there.
I hope you and your sister had great birthdays! One of my sisters and I were born a year and a day apart. We don’t often celebrate together anymore because we live in different states and schedules interfere with getting together, but we did all the time as kids. We always talk by phone when it’s both our birthdays at the same time due to the time zone change.
Always wanted to visit the Florida Keys, but haven’t done it yet.
Sunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sunni! I agree, Elder Abuse is definitely worthy of a post. I think when most people think of abuse they think of spousal and child abuse and we often forget about elder abuse. That’s why it’s good to bring it up every so often.
We had a great time, Sunni! My sister lives in NYC so it’s difficult to get together around our birthdays every year but when we do we try to make it fun.
That so cute that you and your sister call each other on the days of both your birthdays at the same time––and so bizarre––in a cool way.
You should visit the Florida Keys when you get a chance. It’s a fun and unique place to visit. 😀 xx
LikeLike
Happy Birthday, sweetheart! Thankyou for highlighting this very real problem too. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Raphaela! Have a wonderful week! ❤ xx
LikeLike
Belated B’day Beautiful 😉 Great post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Darshith! Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re Welcome Vashti 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing this. It’s an issue more people should be made aware of.
Happy Belated Birthday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Veronica. It’s an important issue and you’re right more people should be made aware of it. 🙂 Thank you.
LikeLike
You spread positive vibes so I have nominated your blog for the Sunshine Blogger Awards Challenge. Click here for details: https://rebirthoflisa.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/the-sunshine-blogger-award-challenge/
LikeLike
Hi Lisa! Thanks for the award nomination! It’s an honor to be nominated by you. I just saw this comment because for whatever reason WordPress decided your comment was spam! I rarely check comments that go into spam but I decided to have a look today. I’m glad I did and I probably should check more often from now on. Thank you again for thinking of me! 😀 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome. I am not sure why I am listed as spam, but I am happy you checked. Congrats on a great blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think there’s no rhyme or reason sometimes. It could have been that you shared a link––who knows? Thanks again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No Problem. have a great weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do the same. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a very important post! Great job, as always!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
LikeLike
Hello Jess! Yes, it is an important subject. Thank you very much for reading. Always a pleasure to link-up! 😀 xx
LikeLike
How awful to abuse anyone but especially an elderly person who is weak and may not be able to take care of themselves. The Keys sound like a great place to visit. That place is on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday. Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂
LikeLike
Hello! I believe only a pathetic coward could abuse a child or and elder. The Florida Keys are a fantastic place to visit. I hope you do make it over there some day. You’re very welcome. It was fun linking up! 😀
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this. It was very thoughtful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. It is an issue I care very much about. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear that. Even i am. I did a course on coursera from OldGlobe, it motivated me to think more on these issues. I really liked this article. Thank you again for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very kind. You should write an article about this too. After all, awareness is the key to stopping abuse. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its your greatness to say so. I exactly dont have written about awareness, but have covered a few things here:
I sure will sometime. 🙂 Thank you.. 🙂
LikeLike