A Message From <strong>OWL</strong>’s PresidentHappy Mother’s Day<strong>OWL</strong> - The Voice of Midlife and <strong>Older</strong> Womencelebrates Mother’s Day as a “call for action” day toimprove the well-being of today’s older women andfuture generations of women. Our topic for the 2009Mother’s Day Report is critical to women and thosewho love them – Elder Abuse.Donna L. WagnerPresident, <strong>OWL</strong>Elder <strong>abuse</strong> is a topicthat is difficult to talkabout and frequently apart of too many women’slives. Elder <strong>abuse</strong> is a termthat encompasses a widereachingset of behaviorstowards <strong>elder</strong>s that aredesigned to diminish themand, in too many cases,physically harm them.Women are more likely tosuffer the pain and turmoilof <strong>elder</strong> <strong>abuse</strong> than are men.Research suggests that some women have experienced<strong>abuse</strong> throughout their lives and others only begin toexperience <strong>abuse</strong> when they have aged. In a 2006 studyof women 60 years of age and older conducted by BonnieFisher and Saundra Regan, almost half of the over 800women surveyed in a telephone survey reported they hadexperienced <strong>abuse</strong> and many had multiple exposures to<strong>abuse</strong> since turning 55. Whether the <strong>abuse</strong> was physical,emotional, psychological, or sexual, <strong>abuse</strong> was associatedwith long-term health problems for these women.In our work, <strong>OWL</strong> is a champion for social changethat matters in the lives of women and their families.We work for accessible, affordable and high-qualityhealth care, economic security, and a quality of life thatincludes the right of all persons to remain in control ofdecisions throughout their lives and the right to live freefrom exploitation and <strong>abuse</strong>. We believe it is time to end<strong>elder</strong> <strong>abuse</strong> and to make sure that our daughters andgranddaughters and those they love can look forward toa long life free of coercion, physical and psychologicalharm. <strong>OWL</strong> is advocating for a federal standard thatwill ensure that future.We have dedicated our Mother’s Day report to thisimportant topic and hope that you will feel as stronglyas we do that it is time to put an end to <strong>elder</strong> <strong>abuse</strong>and will stand with us to work for women’s dignity andindependence every day of their lives.Donna L. WagnerPresident, <strong>OWL</strong>May 2009<strong>OWL</strong> Board of DirectorsDr. Donna L. Wagner, PresidentMargaret Hellie Huyck, Vice PresidentDr. Johnetta Marshall, SecretaryLilo Hoelzel-Seipp, TreasurerEllen Bruce, President EmeritaJoan BernsteinCristina CaballeroGladys ConsidineRose Garrett-DaughetyLowell GreenCarol Hardy-FantaShirley HarlanLinette KinchenMargaret Beth NealKathie PiccagliDianna PorterKay Randolph-BackAmy ShannonSandy TimmermanSue Fryer WardAshley B. Carson, Executive Director2
Executive SummaryThe Center of Excellence on Elder Abuseand Neglect - University of California, Irvine<strong>OWL</strong>- The Voice of Midlife and <strong>Older</strong> WomenOn Mother’s Day, we remember and honor ourmothers and grandmothers. However, on this day wemust also remember older women who are not honoredor respected, but instead mistreated. These women livein fear of a harsh word, violence, money being takenfrom them or worse. Many are too frail, afraid, ashamedor sick to call for help.Yet these women, too, are members of the GreatestGeneration - the same women who enlisted in the WACsand WAVEs during WWII, answered the call to servein the factories to keep the war effort going, integratedthe buses in Montgomery, immigrated to this countryfrom all over the world, worked three jobs -- all to givetheir children chances they never had. Who are they?How many of them are victims of <strong>abuse</strong>? And what isAmerica doing to help?This report brings together experts and organizationsthat work to combat the problem of <strong>elder</strong> <strong>abuse</strong>. Throughtheir voices, we learn about the many dimensions of andcomplexities surrounding <strong>elder</strong> <strong>abuse</strong>, how it affectswomen in a disproportionate manner, and we seek tofind effective solutions.America’s Growing Elderly Population: In 2000,the U.S. Census Bureau counted 281.4 million peoplein the United States. Of this number; 35 million, orone out of every eight people, were age 65 and over. 1Every day, more than 6,000 Americans celebrate their65th birthdays. 2 Since 1900, the over 65 populationhas doubled three times. 3 On January 1, 2011, as babyboomers begin to celebrate their 65th birthdays, 10,000people will turn 65 every day—this will continue for 20years. By 2050, more than 20% of Americans will beover 65 years of age.The fastest growing segment of American’s populationis those 85 and up. 4 During the twentieth century, thepopulation of Americans age 85 and older grew from100,000 to 4.2 million. 5 In this age group, known asthe oldest old, women outnumber men by 2.6 to 1. 6The number of people age 100 and older increased 36%between 1990 and 2003— growing from 37,306 to50,639. Now there are more than 60,000. By 2045, thenumber of centenarians in the United States is projectedto reach 757,000. 7Women age 65 and older are still more likely than menof comparable ages to be living alone and experiencinghigher poverty rates. 8Elder Abuse: a growing, yet hidden problem: Eldermistreatment is defined as intentional actions that causeharm or create a serious risk of harm (whether or notharm is intended) to a vulnerable <strong>elder</strong> by a caregiveror other person who stands in a trust relationship to the<strong>elder</strong>. This includes failure by a caregiver to satisfy the<strong>elder</strong>’s basic needs or to protect the <strong>elder</strong> from harm. 9According to the best available estimates one to twomillion people age 65 and above are injured, exploitedor otherwise mistreated 10 Even the most conservativeestimates reveal that at least one million older Americansexperience mistreatment. Adult Protective Servicesagencies investigated 461,135 reports of <strong>abuse</strong> in 2004,representing a 15.6% increase since the previous nationalsurvey in 2000. 11 However, for every report of <strong>elder</strong>mistreatment that is made to Adult Protective Services,it is estimated that at least five cases go unreported. 12Those Who Are Abused: Female <strong>elder</strong>s are <strong>abuse</strong>dat a higher rate than males. In two-thirds of reportsto Adult Protective Services, the victim is an older ordisabled woman. The older you are, the more likely it isthat you will be <strong>abuse</strong>d. 13Those Who Abuse: In the only national study thatattempted to define the scope of <strong>elder</strong> <strong>abuse</strong>, the vastmajority of <strong>abuse</strong>rs were family members (approximately90%), most often adult children, spouses/partners andothers. 14 Family members who <strong>abuse</strong> drugs or alcohol,who have a mental/emotional illness, and who cannothandle their caregiving responsibilities, <strong>abuse</strong> at higherrates than those who do not. 153
Change language