Abuse and Fraud of Elderly Men

Abuse and fraud of Elderly Men is a topic that is not often discussed. When most of us think of elderly abuse we probably envision an older women being taken advantage of then a men because there are more elderly women than men due to life expectancy and women seem a more vulnerable target. However, men suffer from many forms of abuse such as their high rates of self-abuse and their high risk of abuse and fraud when they are lonely, incarcerated or gay.  Men like their women counterparts, are also victims of domestic abuse although this is a topic that is not talked about much since most times they are thought to be the abuser not the victim; however, according to Quinn in Violence Hits Home: Comprehensive Treatment Approaches to Domestic Violence elderly men are just as likely to be abused as women. Elderly men are most often abused by their spouse and children who may both physically and emotionally attack them through neglect or psychologically abuse. Men also suffer higher rates of homelessness than do women of 60 years or older and make up to 10-20% of the homeless in America. Abuse is also common to homeless men as shown in Youtube clips or shows like “Bum Fights”, which depicts mostly older bums fighting each other for a meager dollar amount or food and broadcast on television or the internet as entertainment.  

Another aspect that makes elderly men more likely to be abused is their cultural background. Many different factors effect whether a man is abused in old age such as, socioeconomic status, level of education, literacy and English proficiency, and degree of acculturation to US customs. Men with low incomes and tense family relations caused by prior abuse of children or their spouse have increased risks of being abused in old age. Although men do make up a smaller percentage of the elder population it is important to take into account the abuse of men both at home and institutions, and attempt to cause awareness of this unspoken phenomenon. 

Shapiro, Constance Hoenk, "Violence Hits Home: Comprehensive Treatment Approaches to Domestic Violence". Edited by Sandra M. Stith, Mary Beth Williams, and Karen Rosen (Book Review), Affilia, 7:3 (1992:Fall) p.107 
 

Kosberg, Jordan I.(1998) 'The Abuse of Elderly Men', Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 9: 3, 69 — 88