Paper Example on Child and Elderly Abuse

Introduction

Child and elderly abuse is an issue that has been reported to the legal authorities more often across the globe. In America, the violence on this two groups of people has increased over the years, and some of the causes attributed to the heinous act are lack of proper care and attention to children and the seniors (WHO, 2018). Additionally, the two groups and vulnerable because they have less physical strength compared to their attackers. Similarly, when children and the elderly are left unattended they become victims of sexual abuse, other factors include; poverty, being put in foster cares, war, and the mentally and physically disabled among others (WHO, 2018). The paper will, therefore, explore the cases of elderly and childhood sexual abuse by giving a summary of each case, explaining the issue of sexual abuse and stating the effects on the victims.

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Child Abuse

The issue is a reporting of sexual abuse in Arizona shelters for immigrant children. Fernando Magaz Negrete, who is a youth aged 32 years old, was arrested by the police in Phoenix for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl (Haag, 2018). Negrete was spotted kissing and caressing the underage girl. The accused is said to be a worker in the institution. The act was performed just after another youth employee in a different organization. Levian Pacheco, aged 25, was also accused of molesting six boys by fondling with them (Haag, 2018). Pacheco is said to be HIV positive, but despite his condition, he did the act to the children. He was seen fondling the teenagers. At the detention center, he was also spotted doing oral sex activities on two other boys.

The abuse is physical and sexual in nature, the issue has several effects on the victims. One of the effects of sexual abuse on children is the development of depressive symptoms which emanate from the act done against their will (Haag, 2018). They also develop anxiety because of fear that the act might be done on them again by the same or different people. Children also develop low self-esteem as they view themselves misused, they lack confidence in themselves, and they always feel bad about themselves. Besides, they can develop inappropriate sexual behavior and end up messing their lives by contacting sexually transmitted diseases.

Additionally, some tend to develop cognitive impairments where they become disturbed to the extent where they cannot make the right decisions, become forgetful among others (WHO, 2018). Also, because of low self-esteem, they begin to be socially isolated from those people around them. Post-traumatic stress disorder can also creep in making them, and as a result, they can develop hyper arousal or avoidance (WHO, 2018). The effects can become permanent in the lives of the victims, and if therapy and counselling are not administered, the impacts can be disastrous.

Elderly Abuse

In another case Forbes magazine reports of an example of elder abuse and neglect concerning DJ Casey Kasem whose stepchildren are reported of not attending to him. A Child from his first marriage, Kerri accused Jean Jasem of neglecting their father by not giving him the necessary medical attention that he deserved (Snelling, 2015). An investigation indicated that upon a medical examination, Casey was found having stage III bedsore wounds and urinary track infections an issue that shows outright neglect and lack of any medical or hygiene attention. The victim later died, and it was alleged that his death was as a result of Parkinson and dementia diseases which he had (Snelling, 2015). Despite the issue of his prior illness, prosecutors mention that his death was as a result of neglect.

In another incident of elder abuse, Linda Ray was found guilty for the abuse of her mother, whom she eventually killed. It is reported that the accused took her mother from a home of the seniors with a reason for giving excellent care to her (Snelling, 2015). She received her to a one bedroom apartment, but the stated consideration was not given. Raye was accused of extreme neglect and also exploiting her financially as she was leaving on the social security benefit of her mother and also collected 900 dollars from the supportive services program in California.

The forms of abuse involved were extreme neglect, financial abuse and exploitation. The violence eventually led to the death of both seniors (Snelling, 2015). When seniors are neglected, they mostly get extraordinarily ill or develop mental illnesses. They always suffer physical impacts such as bed sores and urinary tract infections. The lesions develop into septic wounds and other opportunistic diseases leading to their death.

Abuse to children and the elderly have extreme repercussions as they are weak and vulnerable. Some of the causes of violence emanate from unattended cases where the two groups of people have no one to take good care of them, and as a result, they become prey to the criminals (WHO, 2018). Also, poverty is also another cause of abuse where the caregivers lack the financial ability to take good care of the people under them; the damage is likely to happen. Besides, children and the elderly who are put under foster care homes often experience abuse from the people who take care of them (WHO, 2018). It is because they follow their commands or are too weak to defend themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is essential to note that abuse to victims has got adverse effects which change their lives forever. One of the impacts is developing PTSD because when they think of the experiences, they create a fear of the same act reoccurring. Similarly, it leads to anxiety as the victims continuously worry about their condition. The elderly, become ill or develop mental illnesses such as Parkinson's and dementia. They eventually die because if they are neglected or abused, then they become weaker.

References

Haag. M (2018) 2 Workers at Arizona Migrant Children Centers Are Charged With Sexual Abuse retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/03/us/sexual-abuse-arizona-migrant-children.html

Snelling. S (2015) The Dark Side Of Caregiving: Elder Abuse News retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2015/06/23/the-dark-side-of-caregiving-elder-abuse-news/#789b13f21291

WHO Child abuse retrieved from https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/resources/publications/en/guidelines_chap7.pdf