Karen’s Korner,
There is never a reason for an individual to be abused…NEVER! And yet, it may sound strange, but people sometimes have trouble recognizing abuse. Recognizing abuse may be especially difficult for someone who has lived with it for many years. A person might think that it’s just the way things are and that there’s nothing that can be done. People who are abused might mistakenly think they bring it on themselves by not acting right or by not living up to someone’s expectations. We must educate people to understand what and how serious abuse really is, especially to those who are frail and unable to protect themselves. Abuse affects every part of a person’s life, especially our seniors. Some signs may be as follows: The abused person may become upset, angry, confused, depressed, distrustful, or fearful of the consequences. They have trouble sleeping or participating in activities and are afraid to report abuse because the caregiver who is usually good to them has only been abusive a few times. There is never a reason for an individual to be abused, not even one time! NEVER! – If you feel that you are abused, or you know someone who is being abused, please report it; do not hesitate. Call 911 if you need to! Tell someone! It could be a matter of life or death!
