Causes of Death: Elder Abuse

There are many forms of elder abuse. The most commonly reported is the financial exploitation of the older adults. Some tribes in the Continental U.S. are taking an active role in preventing elder abuse; for example, the Navajo Tribe has a program where the tribe mediates with families where abuse has been reported. This mediation allows for both parties to save face, and for the elder to remain in the family environment if desired, while also holding the perpetrator accountable for his/her actions.

In the case of suspected elder abuse, be aware that Alaska Native older adult do not always trust the Euro-American justice system; they may be extremely reluctant to implicate others in reports of neglect or abuse, particularly when it involves family members. Prevention and intervention of elder abuse needs systematic focus. Community networks that focus upon agreement and teamwork need to be developed in order to raise awareness and provide outreach, detection, and encouragement to report abuse. While urban areas have a variety of programs and systems in place to address the needs of elders, the rural areas need to engage the village-based elder’s councils to organize forums to focus upon elder priorities.