Researchers Work To Reduce Elder Abuse
VCstar.com reports that Ventura County social workers have been given a $654,000 award to fund a project that would allow medical specialists to go to the homes of elderly individuals and adults that feel they are unable to care for themselves and assist them in any way.
According to the report, a psychologist with training in neurological disorders, a licensed social worker, a physician and public health nurses conduct home visits to aid these individuals that neglect themselves. Their goal is to prevent elder abuse from worsening as a result of lack of attention to the problem.
This program is still in its infancy and preliminary results have yet to be completed, however, researchers believe the results will be very promising and hope to shed light on how bad the problem of elder abuse and self-neglect can get. Programs like this one are extremely important because they demonstrate the severity of elder abuse. In addition, this program specifically would be good to provide help for elderly individuals and disabled adults that feel they cannot get help elsewhere. The report states that last fiscal year, 2,271 complaints were made and 40% were self-neglect cases. This number is much higher in other areas of the country. If more programs such as this one arise, elderly people and disabled adults can get the help that they require with ease.
