2006 State Report > Our Health > Abuse and Neglect
Our Health: Abuse and Neglect
Elder abuse can be broadly defined as any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Types of abuse include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. Unfortunately, the problem of elder abuse remains largely hidden. While there are no official national statistics on the prevalence of elder abuse, the National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that as many as 84 percent of abusive situations may go unreported.
Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services, a division of the South Carolina Department of Social Services, protects the health and welfare of elderly and disabled adults. Services are provided to adults who are 18 years of age or older and are victims of actual or potential abuse, neglect, or exploitation. In fiscal year 2004-05, DSS investigated 3,521 reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in South Carolina, involving 3,599 adults. Some reports involved more than one adult. Of these reports, 2,011 (57 percent) were substantiated.
Sixty-eight percent of all adults reported were over the age of 65 and 14 percent were over the age of 85. Of the substantiated reports, 7 percent involved abuse, 12 percent involved exploitation, 24 percent involved neglect by another, 66 percent involved self neglect, and 1 percent involved psychological abuse.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, assisted living facilities and other adult care facilities. They work to resolve problems of individual residents and to bring about changes at the local, state and national levels to improve care. Volunteer ombudsmen to regularly visit long-term care facilities to monitor conditions and care.
While most residents receive good care in long-term care facilities, abuse and neglect are ongoing concerns and incidents of psychological, physical and other kinds of abuse do occur. This is why the Ombudsman Program, begun in 1972 as a demonstration program, is established in all states under the Older Americans Act, administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA).. This is why the Ombudsman Program, begun in 1972 as a demonstration program, is established in all states under the Older Americans Act, administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA).
While most residents receive good care in long-term care facilities, abuse and neglect are ongoing concerns and incidents of psychological, physical and other kinds of abuse do occur. This is why the Ombudsman Program, begun in 1972 as a demonstration program, is established in all states under the Older Americans Act, administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA).
In fiscal year 2004, Ombudsmen in South Carolina investigated 5,251 complaints and resolved 4,075 complaints to the satisfaction of the complainant. Among the complaints against nursing facilities, 38.2 percent involved resident’s rights, 28.4 percent involved resident care, 9.3 percent involved quality of life for residents, 7.2 percent were complaints against administration, 3.4 percent were not against the facility, and 13.4 percent were against facilities other than nursing and residential care facilities.
Complaints to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program by Type: 2004
Source: South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office, Office on Aging.
Crime Victims
When elderly people are the victims of crime, they often suffer greater physical, mental, and financial injuries than other age groups. Elderly victims are twice as likely to suffer serious physical injury and to require hospitalization after a crime as any victims of any other age group. Furthermore, the aging process results in a decreasing ability to heal after injury - both physically and mentally. Also, because many elderly people live on a low or fixed income, they often cannot afford the professional care that could help in the aftermath of a crime.
Although mature adults are less likely to be the victims of violent crime, the effects tend to be much harder on them. Also, mature adults--especially those in advanced age--are vulnerable to other types of crime, sometimes at the hands of their caregivers.
In 2004, 1,836 South Carolinians aged 55 and over were victims of violent crimes. Of these, 25 were murder victims, 23 were forcible rape victims, 744 were robbery victims, and 1,044 were aggravated assault victims.
South Carolina Violent Crime Victims Aged 55 and Older: 2002-2004
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Violent Crime Victims Aged 55+ | 1,818 | 1,872 | 1,836 |
| Murder | 35 | 27 | 25 |
| Forcible Rape | 34 | 34 | 23 |
| Robbery | 762 | 729 | 744 |
| Aggravated Assault | 987 | 1,082 | 1,044 |
Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Crime in South Carolina.