Halloween is actually  the eve of All Saint's Day.  How it became a day for children to beg for candy, I am uncertain.  I know what the entries say about it, but they don't explain the 'trick or treat' phenomenon very well.  I have heard that centuries ago, in Celtic countries, candles were placed in skulls to light the way for souls of departed loved ones.  As with all American traditions, our ancestors brought them with them, and sometimes they were remodeled by the colonists.

 

What ever the reason, have a happy and safe Haloween.  Dont' eat too much candy or celebrate too hard.

 

Trick or Treat!!

 

    

I am recycling my blog from last November as there is much information and many useful links in it.  I hope no one minds, but this all bears repeating.

 

 

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is becoming a much bigger problem than even child abuse in the statistics.  Part of this is due to increased reporting, and partly because more ‘boomers’ and beyond are moving in with their children and their families.

 

Why does this happen?  Sometimes it is simply an over burdening of a family that is already stretched thin financially and with small children in the home that also need care.  The middle generation (where there are 3 generations in the same home) is attempting to care for their children, work to meet their budget, and then trying to care for an elder parent who needs a lot of care as well.

 

Sometimes the motive is greed, and other times it is just anger.  The anger can stem from childhood, or with trying to be the parent with their parent in the home.

 

There are some excellent sites on the internet that have statistics, offer resources and give guidance.  http://www.karisable.com/elderabuse.htm  is one such site, with many links to assist anyone searching.  The following is from that website:

 

"Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect. For every case of elder abuse and neglect reported to authorities, experts estimate that there may be as many as 5 cases not reported. Research suggests elders who have been abused tend to die earlier than those who are not abused, even in the absence of chronic conditions or life threatening disease." Elder Abuse and Neglect: In Search of Solutions

 

American's over the age of 50 years represent 30% of our population, 12% of our murder victims and 7% of other serious and violent crime victims.

90% of elder abuse and neglect incidents are by known perpetrators, usually family members, 2/3rds are adult children or spouses. 42% of murder victims over 60 were killed by their own offspring. Spouses were the perpetrators in 24% of family murders of persons over 60.

The eldest of our seniors, 80 years and older, are abused and neglected at 2 - 3 times the proportion of all other senior citizens. -- Bureau of Justice Statistics

In most states "mandatory reporters of elder abuse" are required by law to report suspected cases of elder maltreatment. Nearly 70 percent of Adult Protective Service agencies' annual caseloads involve elder abuse.

21.6% of all domestic elder abuse reports came from physicians or health care professionals 9.4% from service providers, 14.9% are family members. The types of abuses and their percentage of frequency are below.

 

National Center on Elder Abuse, 1994 The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study: Final Report Washington, DC: Administration for Children and Families & Administration on Aging, US Department of Health and Human Services

 

http://www.karisable.com/elderabuse.htm

 

http://www.karisable.com/elderabuseres.htm

 

The following was taken from: http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html

 

Defined

“Elder abuse is the infliction of physical, emotional, or psychological harm on an older adult. Elder abuse also can take the form of financial exploitation or intentional or unintentional neglect of an older adult by the caregiver.”

 

Here is a link to their educational site:

 

http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html

 

Help Guide .org is another resource filled with valuable information on many topics.

 

http://www.helpguide.org/index.htm

 

If you find the above information disturbing, please don’t turn a blind eye.  Educating ourselves on this issue is very important if those who are abused can be helped.  Reporting even suspected abuse is everyone’s duty.  Please visit the sites mentioned above, and spend at least a few minutes of your time reading through the material.  We may all be victims one day, and need the information offered.

 

(c) 2007, 2008 ZC

Unfortunately, abuse has no boundaries.  It comes from women, children and men in all walks of life.  When we hear the word abuse, most of us assume it is men against women or children.  This is very wrong.  Women can be some of the most verbally abusive of all, and verbal abuse leaves scars deep on one's psyche, regardless of gender or age.

 

No one should ever be ashamed of seeking help to recover from abuse.  Physical abuse leaves bruises and sometimes broken bones, but they do heal in time.  Emotional damage can ruin one's life forever if help is not sought. 

 

There is also the abuse of power one sometimes finds in churches.  This should be a place of refuge and safety, but unfortunately, this does not always hold true.   I would urge you to read "Innocence Betrayed - A Dad's Story of Clergy Misconduct" written by my friends Helen Wisocki and Curt Szajnecki.  You can get more information and check it out at :

 

 

There are many centers who specialize in helping the abused.  There is the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence just to name one.  Your local Department of  Social and Health  Services (DSHS) may be able to help.  If they can't, they will at least know where to find help in your local area.  Don't be afraid to contact them.

 

Sometimes the abuse is the result of the abuser using drugs or alcohol.  This does not make it right or excusable.  Help is still needed.  First for the abuser and secondly (not less importantly) for the individual receiving the abuse.  Most communities today have treatment centers and intervention sites you can check into.  Don't be afraid to contact these places.  They are there to help, but they can't help you unless you ask for it.