Passage
Elder Abuse
– publications.usa.gov
– nonfiction
1 Many older people are victims of elder abuse, sometimes called elder mistreatment. It can happen to anyone—no matter what their race, religion, or background. And, it can happen in many places including the older person’s home, a family member’s house, assisted living facility, or nursing home.
2 Caring for someone who is physically or mentally disabled can be demanding and exhausting. Some caregivers become frustrated, and some type of physical or emotional abuse may occur.
3 Physical abuse happens when the caregiver causes bodily harm by hitting, pushing, or slapping.
4 Emotional abuse can include a caregiver yelling, saying hurtful words, threatening, or repeatedly ignoring an older person. Keeping an older person from seeing close friends and relatives is another form of emotional abuse.
5 Sexual abuse involves a caregiver forcing an older adult to watch or be part of sexual acts.
6 Neglect by caregiver occurs when the caregiver is not responsive to the other person’s needs.
7 Abandonment is leaving an older person alone without planning for his or her care.
8 Financial abuse happens when money or belongings are stolen. This can include forging checks, taking retirement and Social Security benefits, or using another person’s credit cards and bank accounts. Financial abuse includes changing names on a will, bank accounts, life insurance policies, or the title to a house. Financial mistreatment is becoming widespread and is hard to detect. Many older Americans are victims of financial abuse. It can be very upsetting. In addition to losing money, some older adults never regain their sense of trust and self-worth.
9 Healthcare fraud can be committed by doctors, hospital staff, and other healthcare workers. It includes overcharging, billing twice for the same service, falsifying Medicaid or Medicare claims, or charging for care that wasn’t provided.
10 Most victims of abuse are women, but some are men. Likely targets are older people who have no family or friends nearby, and those who suffer from physical handicaps or memory problems.
11 Abuse can happen to any older person, but often affects those who depend on others for help with activities of everyday life—including bathing, dressing, and taking medicine.
The frailest people are often abused because they appear to be easy victims.
Practice – Questions
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Elderly people are all treated badly.
B. Elderly people are all treated well.
C. Elderly people are charming.
D. Many older people are victims of elder abuse.
2. Financial abuse includes which of the following?
A. Forcing an older adult to watch a sexual act.
B. Leaving an older person alone without planning for care.
C. Stealing money or belongings from an older person.
D. Keeping the correct name on a will.
3. Which of the following, from earliest at the top to latest at the bottom, is the correct order of events?
A.
• Some elder adults never regain their sense of trust.
• Stolen belongings can include credit cards.
• Financial abuse can be very upsetting.
• Financial abuse happens when belongings are stolen.
B.
• Stolen belongings can include credit cards.
• Financial abuse happens when belongings are stolen.
• Financial abuse can be very upsetting.
• Some elder adults never regain their sense of trust.
C.
• Financial abuse happens when belongings are stolen.
• Stolen belongings can include credit cards.
• Financial abuse can be very upsetting.
• Some elder adults never regain their sense of trust.
D.
• Some elder adults never regain their sense of trust.
• Financial abuse can be very upsetting.
• Stolen belongings can include credit cards.
• Financial abuse happens when belongings are stolen.
4. Which of the following can you infer from this passage?
A. Elder abuse is an insignificant problem.
B. All the elderly need is Medicare.
C. The elderly don’t have long to live, so why bother?
D. Prevention of elder abuse is aided by conscientious caregivers.
5. What does the word fraud mean in Paragraph 9?
A. forthrightness
B. deceit
C. fairness
D. fragrance
6. Which of the following are character traits of Elder Abuse?
A. Humiliating. Not Rare. Manifold.
B. Humiliating. Rare. Manifold.
C. Gender-Specific. Rare. Not Rare.
D. Gender-Specific. Not Rare. Humiliating.
7. Healthcare fraud includes which of the following?
A. Changing names on a life insurance policy.
B. Leaving an older person alone without planning for care.
C. Falsifying Medicare claims.
D. Using an elderly person’s credit card.
8. Which of the following is implied in this passage?
A. The elderly are inherently funny.
B. The elderly are parasites.
C. A caregiver for the elderly needs to have a lot of patience.
D. A caregiver for the elderly should have a devil-may-care attitude.
9. What does the word falsifying mean in Paragraph 9?
A. correcting
B. intentionally making incorrect
C. being honest
D. flattening
10. Which of the following shows the correct point of view?
A.
Elder’s Point of View
• Can be exhausted from delivering elder care.
• Must not neglect an elder under care.
Caregiver’s Point of View
• Can be subjected to elder abandonment.
• Can be subjected to elder mistreatment.
B.
Elder’s Point of View
• Can be subjected to elder abandonment.
• Can be exhausted from delivering elder care.
Caregiver’s Point of View
• Can be subjected to elder mistreatment.
• Must not neglect an elder under care.
C.
Elder’s Point of View
• Can be subjected to elder abandonment.
• Must not neglect an elder under care.
Caregiver’s Point of View
• Can be exhausted from delivering elder care.
• Can be subjected to elder mistreatment.
D.
Elder’s Point of View
• Can be subjected to elder abandonment.
• Can be subjected to elder mistreatment.
Caregiver’s Point of View
• Can be exhausted from delivering elder care.
• Must not neglect an elder under care.
Practice – Answers
1. D. Many older people are victims of elder abuse.
Main Idea
2. C. Stealing money or belongings from an older person.
Detail
3.
C.
• Financial abuse happens when belongings are stolen.
• Stolen belongings can include credit cards.
• Financial abuse can be very upsetting.
• Some elder adults never regain their sense of trust.
Detail
4. D. Prevention of elder abuse is aided by conscientious caregivers.
Inference
5. B. deceit
Context
6. A. Humiliating. Not Rare. Manifold.
Inference
7. C. Falsifying Medicare claims.
Detail
8. C. A caregiver for the elderly needs to have a lot of patience.
Inference
9. B. intentionally making incorrect
Context
10.
D.
Elder’s Point of View
• Can be subjected to elder abandonment.
• Can be subjected to elder mistreatment.
Caregiver’s Point of View
• Can be exhausted from delivering elder care.
• Must not neglect an elder under care.
Detail