Abuse Of Seniors example essay topic

Assignment #1 - Position Paper - THE UNETHICAL ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE ELDERLYByMike PoitrasWaking up in the middle of the night frightened and shaken up is a terrible time that each one of us can remember feeling. Then having someone close to us who we trusted come in, pick us up, and hold us tight produced a sense of security. We were able to take that security, and build a dignified and confident person that grew wiser with age. It seems though that in some instances, as we grow older and wiser, some do not get the respect and dignity that is owed to them.

The security that helped build their lives has been stripped from them. Seniors end up losing the human right of having dignity and security that they have come to enjoy and live with. Our human rights do not answer to the needs of today's elderly, either through discriminatory acts, or acts of abuse. We should all be treated with the same free discriminatory human rights as well as the opportunity to equality, as stated in the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA).

It declares that... [a] ll individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society, without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted. To live in such a perfect world where everybody can have their needs addressed would be as though you were living a dream. But in the cruel reality, many people get discriminated against on an everyday basis; especially seniors. Many seniors today find themselves being taken advantaged of in a number of manifest and latent ways.

The simple need of being treated with the same human rights as all other people is escaping our reality. As a person grows older they begin to experience the different classes of mistreatment. Although the CHRA tries to protect people with human rights, they themselves show and promote the act of discrimination. "Much of what we associate with aging is simply 'socially constructed'". Since the discrimination against elderly people is so characterized, it is not surprising that society is trying to force them out of social places. The mandatory retirement age of 65 is not only seen as acceptable but the courts and government supports it.

This aspect of discrimination is one of many forms of abuse, but it is not the only one. Through physical, financial, psychological and emotional abuse, and through the acts of neglect and abandonment, seniors feel the insufferable pain everyday of their lives. To remedy the problem there are simple and ideological principles that need to be examined; dignity, independence, fairness, participation and security. If these standards can be utilized by society, we can rid ourselves of the terrible mistreatment of seniors. Although the CHRA and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms both state that to discriminate against somebody because of their age is wrong, they have done nothing to change the fact that it happens on an everyday basis".

[M] any workplaces have retirement policies that require all employees to retire at age 65". Section 10 of the Ontario Human Rights Code defines age as being "an age that is eighteen years or more... and less than sixty-five years". This discriminatory definition of age goes against ones sense of security in a working establishment. This is simply translated into that "the Commission cannot receive a complaint of age discrimination in employment from someone who is 65 or older". So if a manager or store owner would cut back benefits, vacation pay, hours, or anything of such magnitudes, the seniors would not be able to voice a formal complaint. Even the Supreme Court of Canada is backing the decisions made by the government.

In one case (McKinney vs. University of Guelph (1990) ), the courts did find that this section discriminated on the basis of age, but the discrimination was within "reasonable limits with the equality rights of older persons". The impact of mandatory retirement goes further than simply affecting one person. Since people are starting their families at later stages in their lives, many of the elderly are still supporting their children who are in post secondary education. Many people are also starting second, third, and fourth families at later eras in their lives. Trying to start a new family that late in life, mixed in with forced retirement is an extremely large financial burden that could evolve into the possibilities of losing your home, and or having your standard of living changed dramatically for the worse, and or even falling into poverty. This is something that is all too real and possible.

The impact of being told you can no longer work or you are no longer competent to do your job because you turned 65 has tremendous emotional and psychological repercussions. The day before your birthday the company valued the work and dedication you put into the business and asked you for your wise and experienced input, the next day your incompetent and useless. Imagine the impact it has and the possible ripple effect that this kind of treatment can lead to. Perhaps not in the immediate future but further on, possible changes can occur. Trying to juggle the extremities of having no retiring age and the limit we have today, perhaps we can catch the right solution and hold on to it. Conceivably a 'phased-in' approach would be the best solution.

Gradually giving people an opportunity to work part-time, or use their skills, experience, and expertise in their fields to mentor young individual coming in to their fields. When speaking of human rights and the ethics of the elderly, it is quite difficult not to include the aspect of abuse. Elderly abuse is a very serious matter in our society, one that needs to be understood fully in order to try to apply methods in preventing it. "Approximately 4% or 60,000 of the 1.5 million older persons living in Ontario experience elder abuse". Although some may say that it is only 4%, in concern to an issue of abuse, 4% is far to high. Seniors are being abused physically, financially, psychologically / emotionally, as well they are being neglect and abandoned.

Before we can simply hand out possible solutions, it is imperative that we overlook each type of abuse. For these class i fictions, we shall concentrate on the abuser being someone of trust or someone in a position of trust, such as a caregiver, family member or guardian. Physical abuse is consistent with "any physical pain or injury which is wilfully inflicted upon an elder... [t] his includes, but is not limited to, direct beatings, sexual assault, unreasonable physical restraint, and prolonged deprivation of food or water". Possible indicators that can indicate a senior is being abused would be cuts, bruises, loss of weight, or even soiled clothing or bed. Financial abuse is the most common form of abuse, since it can be done by almost anybody, through many median.

It can be explained as "any theft or misuse of an elder's money or property... ". . One should be cautious and speculative of any unusual or inappropriate activity in back accounts, notice a lack of amenities, or personal belongings. The third category is neglect. Neglect is "the failure... to provide that degree of care which a reasonable person in a like position would provide".

Some subcategories would include the failing in helping an elderly with their personal hygiene, the lack of medical care and attention, and the protection of elderly people from possible hazards. The psychological / emotion form of abuse is one that's immediately felt. "The wilful infliction of mental suffering, ... constitutes psychological / emotional abuse". Some of the examples in this form of abuse are "verbal assaults, threats, instilling fear, humiliation, intimidation, or isolation". Some possible indicators of such abuse would be when an elder show some hesitation or fear to speak openly, the fact that they are withdrawn, and or is in a depressed state. The fifth and final major category of abuse is abandonment.

"Abandonment constitutes the desertion or wilful forsaking of an elder... under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide care of custody". In direct connection to the theme of abuse, it is imminent that society rectifies the problem in the immediate and foreseeable future. If we incorporate certain practices in dealing with seniors we can eliminate abuse and perhaps even the discrimination against elders in the workplace. Several methods of helping the elderly would be giving them dignity, independence, fairness, participation, and security. Giving seniors dignity and treating them with respect in every aspect will give them a sense of self-worth. It will demonstrate the appreciation of the accomplishments that they have achieved in their lives.

Presenting seniors with independence will give them a sense of control of one's own life. We should give them the ability to do as much for themselves as they can. Making decisions on daily matters and having the freedom to make their own decisions. Fairness is treating the real needs of the elderly as equally to those as other Canadians. Society should provide them the availability of services, and not discriminate against them simply because of their age. Participation is allowing the elderly to get involved in making decisions for one's self, for the community, society and even the government.

They should have a meaningful role in daily affairs, and enjoy participating in programs that are available to them. Let them give their input and make decisions that not only reflect the ideas of seniors programs, but also for those of other members of society. Security is something that everyone needs, especially seniors. Living in a safe and productive life where one's financial and physical securities are met on an everyday basis is essential to the elderly. Having access to family and friends gives them security so that they don't have to worry about their living conditions, and it also gives them a sense of crime protection. As we have just recently stepped into the 21st century, people's human rights have come a long way, but it is obvious that it does not answer everybody's needs.

Our government and court systems still view aging as a negative aspect in one's life, and see it to an end rather than promoting it as a means. Our seniors are filled with wisdom and experience, but rather than learning from them we simply push them aside once they reach a certain age. Discrimination in Canada is something that the government is trying to rectify, but it is slowing down its progress because of the injustices it is doing to the elderly. Society doesn't view human rights as a privilege but more of an aspect of everyday life. To be treated unfairly because of one's age is wrong and should be stopped, much like the abuse of seniors. This is one aspect that will continue to grow if the government doesn't do act immediately.

With the increase of age in society do to the rising population of the baby boomers, the government must implement programs, such as the methods previously mentioned and provide more money in its attempts to rectify the problem. The needs of today's elderly are in no way correlated with their human rights. The elderly are trying to make a life for themselves that they wish to have, and being abused no matter which way is inhumane. It is an improbable thought that one of the seniors' needs is to be abused, robbed or neglected. If we all work together in trying to find solutions for the future of our seniors, we as a society should encourage them to participate their wisdom and life experiences.

Since we are dealing with somebody's humanity, perhaps it should be our turn to sit and listen, rather than trying to force our realm of ideas upon them.

Bibliography

1. Aitken, Brian, W.W. Ethical Issues for the Elderly: Study Guide. Huntington University, 1998.
2. Canadian Human Rights Act: Chapter H-63. Kos berg, Jordan, I. Abuse and Maltreatment of the Elderly: Causes and Interventions. Boston: John Wright, PSG Inc, 1983.
4. Shell, Donna, J. Protection of the Elderly: A Study of Elder Abuse. Winnipeg: Manitoba Council on Aging, 1982.
5. Supreme Court of Canada: McKinney vs. University of Guelph (1990) 6.
Wolf, Rosalie, S., Pill emer, Karl, A. "Helping Elderly Victims" The Reality of Elder Abuse. New York: Columbia University Press, 1989.