The Importance of the English Language in Your Field of Expertise Essay Example for Free

The Importance of the English Language in Your Field of Expertise Essay The English Language has been a tool to bring people of different races, and cultures together. For many hundreds of years as this language has evolved and has sown its influence from continental Europe to the New World by wave of migrants and conquerors. At present, because of the power of influence by the Commonwealth Nations (those who have recognized the United Kingdom) up to these present day, the English language has been used and adopted by almost every nation as a second language. In this world of extreme globalization, cultures and nations has been crisscrossing in almost all corners of the world and they can basically to the very least speak only the most popular language used by millions of people in our world , the English language, to convey their feelings, interests, messages to one another. No other language has that influence even with the billions of Chinese People speaking their own language, they also learned to embrace the English Language to be competitive. They cannot isolate themselves to their own country since that would be very detrimental to their growth as a nation. Speaking of competitiveness, even the curriculum taught by schools has the English language as their primary medium of instruction. Every single country has adopted English to their academics. All fields, from science, history, culture, politics, and philosophy, to name a few, adopted the English language to expand their respective pursuits. In the medical field, where I am currently pursuing midwifery, English language has been the accepted communication and teaching tool for us students to grasp the concepts needed for me to know and get the necessary skills to be a midwife. The English Language has allowed the midwifery to be taught with ease to the Filipino students since most if not all of the textbooks and resources about midwifery are written in the English language. Numerous authors of these various resources have a comprehensive base of data to fully teach the science of midwifery. So it is but natural for educational institutions to adapt resources in the English language to train their midwifery students. By using instructions in English, the midwifery graduates can become very competitive as they join the workforce not only in the different health institutions in the country but in different countries as well. Globalization again has a role in here. Many workers have aspired to work abroad to give a comfortable life for their families. But in order to become worthy of working abroad, once must be efficient in skills to do his job. Such is the case in becoming a midwife. Many countries especially in the Middle East has continue to look for midwives in the Philippines to augment its workforce because they know that the Philippines are not only skilful but command the English language effectively as well. They are looking for workers that can communicate with the constituents of these foreign nations. This is the reason why foreign companies has always look up to the Philippines are a rich source of quality workers and being efficient in English is always a plus for them. Hence, the English language has surely helped and raised the quality of midwifery graduates from our country that continue to be in demand here and abroad.

Theoretical Approaches Of The Elderly Abuse Social Work Essay

Theoretical Approaches Of The Elderly Abuse Social Work Essay 2-1- Introduction In the upcoming chapter, the title will be review of research literature. This chapter considered as the heart of research supervises al the time research stages and is theoretical and performance guidance of research. This chapter consists of three main topics. The first topic titled review of research theoretical literature deals with theoretical approaches of the elderly abuse including definition, forms and associated theories. Outlines and former subject researches about the elderly abuse which have been done by different domestic and international researchers in forms of bachelor, master, doctoral theses or research projects were labeled as review of experimental research literature and forms the second topic of this chapter. And finally, the last topic which will be discussed in this chapter is elective theoretical research frame that we will try to review the former two topics (theoretical and experimental literature) and discuss theories and approaches which will be used reg arding the influential factors on elderly abuse in Malaysia and based on them other stages of research will be followed up in future chapters. Now in this part, firstly theoretical fundamentals of research will be discussed and then the assessment of experimental research literature inside and outside of the country will be covered: 2-2- Review of theoretical literature The following sentences relates to theoretical dimensions and conceptive environment of research topic. In another word, explanations and theoretical approaches about the elderly abuse including definition and effective factors are issues that will be covered and it will be tried that by exploring these topics, thought and mind environments of research will be clarified and we would be able to provide a background for future chapters, particularly results, conclusion, and suggestions. 2-2-1- The Definition of the Abuse of the Elderly Although there is an absence of agreed or standard definitions of abuse, commented on by McCreadie (1996) and others, a number of definitions of elder abuse have emerged. Early attempts at defining mistreatment in the UK context were relatively specific as seen, for example, in the following: A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person (Action on Elder Abuse, 1995) However, later definitions tend to have been more widely drawn, as in the recent government document, No Secrets, in which the definition is given as: Abuse is a violation of an individuals civil or human rights by any other person or persons (DoH, 2000). Given the lack of consensus concerning definition, which ultimately may not result in any major difficulty (Penhale, 1993), it is at least reassuring to find that most people concerned with the issue agree on the different types of mistreatment that can happen. The usual types of mistreatment included within most definitions are physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, financial abuse (also referring to exploitation and misappropriation of an individuals property and possessions), psychological and emotional abuse. When considering neglect, separate, stand-alone definitions do not usually appear, with neglect often appearing as a sub-type of abuse. Thus in the Social Services Inspectorate (1993) definition, elder abuse is described as: . . . physical, sexual, psychological or financial. It may be intentional or unintentional or the result of neglect (DoH, 1993, para 2.1). More recently, draft guidance issued by the Social Services Inspectorate indicates that abuse may occur: . . . as a result of a failure to undertake action or appropriate care tasks. It may be physical, psychological, or an act of neglect . . . (DoH, 1999, para 2.7). Neglect and acts of omission are then further delineated as: . . . including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating (DoH, 1999, para 2.8). To these may be added such categories as enforced isolation and deprivation of necessary items for daily living (warmth, food or other aspects, such as teeth). In general, however, situations of self-neglect by an older person would not be considered within the UK perspective of mistreatment. Although many practitioners work with older individuals who self-neglect, usually this is not considered within an elder mistreatment or indeed an adult protection framework. Abuse within institutions also encompasses situations that arise because of the regime or system that may operate in the unit in addition to individual acts of abuse that occur. There also may be abusive situations that arise between a resident and a member of care staff, initiated by the older person as protagonist, so there may be dual directionality of abuse, or unidirectional abuse from resident towards staff member (McCreadie, 1996). Neglect within institutions may arguably be more pervasive and insidious, affecting the daily lives of many residents in a myriad of ways, from overt to covert. According to the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs (1987), with elderly abuse has several forms and definition is as follows: any act of commission or omission that results in harm or threatened harm to the health and benefit of an old people. The Select Committee on Aging defined the following categories of abuse: physical abuse, Neglect, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and self-neglect. In its most common usage, elder abuse is an all-inclusive term representing all types of mistreatment or abusive behavior toward older adults. Abusive acts include the following: striking, burning, threatening, abandoning, starving older adults, or taking their property without consent. If an act of violence, such as a slap, occurs only once, by most standards it is probably not considered to be elder abuse. If it happens fairly often or results in the hospitalization of the victim, the action is deemed abuse; likewise, threatening with a gun, sexual assault, or other mark edly violent acts need only occur once (Wolf, 2000).A shocking way for elderly people to spend their final days is in a state of maltreatment known as elder abuse. Although it can occur in institutions, it is most often suffered by frail elderly people living with their spouses or their children (Papalia aIds, 1995). 2-2-2- Forms of Older Adult Abuse There are many types of abuse that affect older adults. According to Gray-Vickrey (2001), the five most common types of abuses are as follows: 1. Neglect, whether intentional or unintentional, accounts for 49% of substantiated elder abuse cases. Neglect generally to happen when a care provider to not do what is excepted for an old people with adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or assistance with activities of daily living. 2. Emotional abuse, the willful infliction of anguish through threats, intimidation, humiliation, and isolation, is involved in 35% of cases. 3. Financial abuse is the misuse of someones property and resources by another person. Financial or material exploitation occurs in 30% of cases. 4. Physical abuse, the use of physical forces that results in pain, impairment or bodily injury, accounts for 25% of substantiated elder abuse cases. Hitting, slapping, restraining, molesting, biting, burning, pushing, or pulling all qualify as physical abuse. 5. Sexual abuse is another extremely devastating form of the abuse of older adults. Sexual abuse can be seen as a type of physical abuse (Arbetter, 1995). However, it is often discussed separately due to the different types of harm inflicted upon older adults. In one study, researchers found that the urogenital injury due to sexual abuse was à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Prevalent among elderly people (Muram, Miller, Culter, 1992). There main sexual abuse behaviors are mentioned frequently in relevant literatures. First activity or activities which are done without any physical contacts. They something are called Hand off behaviors. A common form of hand-off abuse is to make the victim to watch pornographic sceneries, exhibition and voyeuristic activities. The second form of sexual abused is called Hand-on behaviors involving some physical contact with the victim. The third and most dramatic form of sexual abuse is a kind of painful action on victims sexual or rectal region.(Ramsey, Klawsnick, 1999). On the other hand, Pritchard (1999) introduced another category of abuse among older people which are commonly seen by health professionals: History of incest between mother and son. Husband wife sexual abuse. Older gay man abused in the community. Research is mixed concerning the victim-offender relationship in elder sexual abuse cases. Muram et al. (1992) compared the medical record of older sexual assault victims (n=53) to younger sexual assault victims (n=55) and found that older adults were more likely to be assaulted by strangers and to have the assault occur in their home. Johnson (1995) seems to agree, stating, Most sexual assaults of elderly women occur in the victims home by an assailant who is unknown to the victim (p.221). Research by Ramsey-Klawsnick (1991) and Holt (1993) suggested slightly different patterns. Ramsey-Klawsnick (1991) asked twenty adult protective service workers to identify and describe cases of sexual abuse among older adults they have seen in the past. The case workers identified twenty-eight cases of sexual abuse, with eighty one percent of the cases reportedly committed by caregivers. Seventy-eight percent of the abusers were relatives, with sons representing the majority of offenders. Research by Holt (1993), studied seventy-seven elder sexual abuse cases in Great Britain and found that fifty percent of the cases were committed by sons of the victims. None of the sexual assaults in Holts study were committed by strangers. According to NCEA (1998), sexual assault is a problem that is usually not associated with older adults, often accounting for approximately less than 1% of reported elder maltreatment cases. There is other dramatic type of psychological abuse. This kind of abuse can be demonstrated in different forms such as threats, bargaining, seduction, stalking or manipulation ( Marshal, Benton, Brazier, 2000). The most common characteristics of this kinds of abuse is their difficulty to be assessed. Johnson (1995) stated that they psychological abuse are not concrete, so they are hard to be assessed. According to Quirm and Tomita (1997), psychological abuse is an integral part of other types of abuse. Victims often report being threatened with nursing home placement if they protest physical abuse or if they threaten to tell someone outside of the family, or if they refuse to hand over money. According to NCEA (1998), psychological abuse accounted for approximately 35% of the cases of maltreatment reported in 1996. A well known form of abuse can be financial abuse which extremely traumatic in nature. In order to recognize financial abuse, it is suggested to have the following items in mind: Unusual transaction in bank activities. Older persons inability to sign other documents such as power of attorney, will or other bank drafts. Care givers disappear suddenly. D) There is a lack of amenities, when the estate can afford it (Quinn Tomita, 1997). Larue (1992) suggests that financial abuse might have been even more common than reports indicate because it is so difficult to detect. Research that relies on interviews with people in their communities instead of abuse complaints filed with governmental agencies tends to support this view. For example, Canadian researchers who randomly sampled citizens at home showed financial exploitation to be more common than neglect (Podnieks, Pillemer, Nicholson, Shillington, Frizzell, 1990). According to Welfel, Danzinger, and Santoro (2000), the financial exploitation of older adults ometimes experienced through fraudulent telemarketing schemes or through unscrupulous contractors who are strangers are not the primary domains of elder mistreatment laws. Criminal statutes relating to fraud and extortion are probably better suited to deal with such schemes. However, if a person befriends an older person and begins caring for that older adult in order to take money or material goods from him or her, that person would likely be subject to the elder abuse statutes. The most common form of the abuse of older adults is neglect, which involves failure to provide essential physical or mental care for an older person. Physical neglect includes withholding food or water, failing to provide proper hygiene, or neglecting to offer physical aid or safety precautions. Neglect needs not to be intentional; it sometimes occurs when the caregiver is unable to provide the older person with proper care (Lachs Pillemer, 1995). Overall, 49% of the reports of elder maltreatment involve neglect and maltreatment, either intentional or unintentional (NCEA, 1998). Abandonment is a particular form of neglect. The state of Connecticut defines abandonment as the desertion or willful forsaking of an elder by a caretaker or foregoing, withdrawal, or neglect of duties and obligations owned an elder by a caretaker or others (Fulmer, Mc Mahon, Baer-Hines, Forget, 1992, p. 506). According to the American College of Emergency Physicians (1999), scenarios of abandonment include family members dropping off elderly persons, boarding homes or nursing homes dropping off elderly persons, and, in some cases, elderly persons seeking out care in emergency rooms on their own because they are unable to care for themselves. There are times when the neglect older adults suffer results from their own actions or inactions. This problem is referred to as self-neglect. Older adults may self-neglect when they fail to take medications, repeatedly skip meals, use alcohol or other drugs to excess, or fail to attend to personal hygiene. Often, such self-neglect is associated with untreated physical or mental health problems, especially depression (Quinn Tomita, 1997). Tatara (1996) suggested that as many as one third of elder abuse cases involve self-neglect or self-abuse. The NCEA (1997) gathered data about self-neglect and found that self-neglect cases are those that are most often dealt with by protective service employees. Estimates of the extent of self-neglect are likely low because most elderly persons who are neglecting themselves would be unlikely to report their self-neglect to authorities (Hall, 1987). Byers and Lamanna (1993) further note that protective service workers often find these cases the mos t difficult to handle because efforts to stop the self neglect are resisted by the victim. 2-2-3 Factors that Contribute to the elder abuse Everitt, OMalley, and Campion, (1983). (a) Those focusing on the victims dependency: That is, there are a variety of factors that may contribute to older adult abuse and neglect. According to Bennett and Kingston (1993) and Biegel and Blum (1990), several factors predisposing elderly abuse by caresr include    : (1) mental and physical dependence to one family, (2) poor communication or a failure of relationship, (3) considerable change in a caregivers lifestyle,(4) perceptions of caregivers towards dependence of older persons, (5) frequent visits to general practitioners by the informal caregivers to talk about their problems, (6) role reversal, and (7) isolation of the household. Preliminary hypotheses regarding the cause of elder mistreatment that was based on case reports and early studies were reviewed by OMalley on physical and mental impairment of an older adult, (b) Those emphasizing the effect of stress on the caregiver, (c) Those concerned with the influence of families who have learned to solve problems by being violent with one another, (d) Those that focus on the individual problems of the abuser, and (e) Effects of a society, which casts older adults in the role of non-persons through ageism, sexism, and destructive attitudes toward the disabled and toward those who are perce ived to be unattractive. Several researchers have identified various risk factors that can potentially lead to mistreatment or abuse of older adults. According to Anastasio (1981), risk factors that characterize precipitators are inability to provide care, financial needs and inability to maintain ones home. For victims, the risk factors include functional impairment and adverse physiological change. There are a variety of probable causes of the abuse of older adults. Most causes of abuse are committed in residential rather than institutional settings, and the most likely culprits are spouses, children, siblings, relatives, or paid caregivers. In older persons, the most common types of maltreatment are neglect, emotional/psychological abuse, and physical abuse (Marshall, Benton, Brazier, 2000). Other risk factors in abuse are (1) shared living arrangements between the elder person and the abuser, (2) dependence of the abuser on the victim, and (3) social isolation of the elder pers on. The typical victim is an elderly person in poor health that lives with someone. Elderly people living alone, whether widowed, divorced, or never married are at low risk. The abuser is more likely to be a spouse than a child, reflecting the fact that more elderly people live with their spouses than with children; and the risk factor is greater when the caregiver is depressed (Pillemer Finkelhor, 1988: Paveza, et al. 1992). Although many older men are abused, abuse against women inflicts more injuries. Rates of violence are high in families with an elder person suffering from dementia; in these families punching, kicking, and other violent behaviors are high in both directions (Paveza, et. al., 1992). In the United States, the number of reported cases of domestic elder abuse nationwide, calculated by combining state reports and adjusting for differences in definitions and eligibility criteria, has increased steadily from 117,000 in 1986 to 296,000 in 1996 (Tatara, 1995; Tatara, Kuzmeskas, and Duckhom, 1997). 2-2-4Competing theoretical explanations of elder abuse Five major theories have been set forth in an effort to understand the causes of elder mistreatment. These theories include (a) the impairment theory, which advances the idea that elderly persons who have a severe mental impairment are most likely to be abused; (b) the theory of psychopathology of the abuser, contending that personality traits or character disorders cause persons to be abusive; (c) the transgenerational violence theory, which holds that violence is a learned normative behavior in some families; (d) the stressed caregiver theory, which examines the burdens a dependent elder places on the family; and (e) the exchange theory, which evaluates the effect of external influences upon the relationship between victim and abuser (Fulmer, 1998). Lachs fulmer (1993) reported seven leading theories or conceptual frameworks are used to examine the etiology of elder abuse. Of course, in addition to these seven theories, exchange theory has paid attention to the elderly abuse subject from the view of expenses and rewards that will be pointed out in the following of the seven theories. 2-2-4-1- Psychology of the abuser The first is psychology of the abuser, which refers to caregivers who have pre- existing condition that impair their capacity to give appropriate care. For example, a caregiver who has mental retardation or alcohol dependency may not be able to exercise appropriate judgment in care giving of older adults. This can ultimately lead to abuser neglect (Lachs fulmer, 1993). 2-2-4-2 Transgenerational violence The next Theory is related to transgenerational violence. According to this theory, elderly abuse can be a part of the continuing domestic violence that started with child abuse and elderly abuse will end. Little research has been done to obtain empirical evidence to support this theory, but the same number also emphasized on its importance. Another aspect of transgenerational violence relates to adult children that long time lived with their parents and children were abused then grow up and the elderly parents living with them are being abused. (Lachs fulmer, 1993). 2-2-4-3- Learning theory Finally, transgenerational violence has been explained in terms of a learning theory in that a child who observes violence as a coping mechanism may learn it and bring to adult life (Lachs fulmer, 1993). 2-2-4-4- Isolation theory National center on elder abuse and the American public human services association (1998) has reported isolation theory espouses that mistreatment is prompted by a dwindling social network. According to the National Elder Abuse incidence study about 25% of all elderly person live alone and even more interact only with family members and have little social interaction with the outside word. Isolated older adults are at the particular risk because there are no outsiders watching out for them, and they may not be identified by the healthcare system or reporting agencies until it is too late (Lachs fulmer, 1993). According to Godkin, Wolf, and Pillemer (1989), it is difficult to determine whether isolation is the result of mistreatment (family members or caregivers may be trying to hide the abuse from the outside word) or precipitating factor of abuse. 2-2-4-5- Identity Theory Other theories are role and identity theories. A synthesis of role theory and identity theory has provides an explanation of the effects of socially constructed roles and identities for the elderly. It assists in understanding how these socially constructed roles and identities may increase the elders vulnerability to abuse. 2-2-4-6- Role Theory In their classic text on role theory, Biddle and Thomas (1986) noted that one of the key characteristics of social behavior is the fact that human beings behave in ways that are different and predictable depending on their respective social identities and the situation. Key concepts of role theory includes: the identities that actors assume, the expectations for behavior of the actor that is mutually understood and adhered to by the individuals, and the social behaviors that are characteristic of the particular behavior. 2-2-4-7- Social exchange theory Another conceptual model that has been used to explain elder abuse has been derived from social exchange theory. Social exchange theory is based on the idea that social interaction involves the exchange of reward and punishments between at least two people and that all individuals seek to maximize reward and perform instrumental services. In fact, with increasing physical infirmities, the individual begins to require more and more in the form of instrumental services. Therefore, when one is old and infirm, violating the law of distributive justice is relatively easy. In addition, because of the losses associated with aging, the individuals potential to supplement social ties and to extend a personal power base is reduced. As a result, the individual becomes less able to reciprocate rewarding behaviors and less likely to have a choice about continuing unrewarding or punishing social exchanges with those who perform an instrumental service. Figuratively speaking, the elderly individual must begin to live on the credit accumulated over the years because there are few ways to replenish the bank. One outcome of the aging condition that Dowed predicts is that as the imbalance in power increases, the older person is likely to display more passivity and compliance and more withdrawing behaviors in an effort not to alienate the remaining few people who can provide rewards and services. 2-2-4-8- Situational theory Steinmets (1990) have explained situational theory, which is also referred to as caregiver stress. As care burdens multiply, they outweigh the caregivers capacity to meet the needs of the older adult; therefore, caregiver stress can overwhelm the situation. Elder abuse can be outcome. The situational model is the explanatory base that was the earliest devised to explain elder abuse. It also appears to be the most widely accepted at this time. Derived from the theoretical base associated predominately with child abuse and less strongly with other forms of intrafamily violence, this model has considerable intuitive appeal. In addition, among clinicians, this model has popular support, since its basic premise fit easily within an intervention framework. Very simply, the basic premise of the situational model is that as the stress associated with certain situational and/or structural factors increases for the abuser, the likelihood increases of abusive acts directed at a vulnerable individual who is seen as being associated with the stress. The situational variables that have been linked with abuse of the elderly have included 1) elder related factors such as physical and emotional dependency, poor health, impaired mental status, and a difficult personality. 2) Structural factors such as economic strains, social isolation, and environmental problems, and 3) caregiver related factors such as life crisis, burn out or exhaustion with care giving, substance abuse problems, and previous socialization experiences with violence. There is a lot of support to approve the situational model. It is obviofied us that the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ burden of stress to caregivers makes more than overwhelmed and older abuse family members. Moreover, psychological model of child abuse and interfamily violence model which are highly related to structural and situational stress. Bring up the problem of older abuse. If gives a strong approval to use situational model for abuse among older people. Finklhor and Pillemer stated that there are some similarity between child abuse and elder abuse. They found this similarity in vulnerability of abuse victim and frustration in caregivers. Moreover, both child and elder abuse share the social context and are identified by healthcare professionals. They believe that the story is true for spouse abuse, too. Whatever the reason of abuse, it can be prevented. This à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.that shows that situational model is an applicable model for elder abuse. 2-2-4-9 Physical/Mental Dependence (Impairment) This theory is based on the belief that elderly persons who have a severe mental or physical impairment are most vulnerable to becoming abused.   In relationships where one person is dependent and another person is the helper or caregiver, there is always potential for misuse of power by the caregiver. Summary of theoretical explanations To explain the causes of elder abuse, some researchers in developed countries have viewed it as a problem of an overburdened caregiver (situational model), a mentally disturbed abuser (intra-individual dynamics), or a dependent perpetrator and dependent victim (exchange theory). Others have used learned behavior (social learning theory), the imbalance of power within relationships (feminist theory), and the marginalization of elders (political economy theory), or a lack of fit between the organism and the environment (ecological theory). 2-3- Review of experimental literature Phenomenon of the elderly abuse and its forms and causes are subjects that have been explored by sociologists, social psychologists and hygiene experts to find its visible and invisible dimensions. This part of the draft, as is clear from its topic, is discussing subject experimental literature about characteristics of victims. This literature involves all performed studies and researches in the form of governmental reports, organizational researches, bachelor, master, and doctoral theses that are cited according to the year they have been performed. No one explanation for the cause of elder abuse exists. Abuse is a complex problem which is rooted in multiple factors (Wolf, 2000). Caregiver stress and burden was once regarded as a major causative factor of elder abuse. However, Anetzberger (2000) discusses the complexity of elder abuse and the results of prior studies, which suggest that the etiology of elder abuse is multifaceted, and that caregiver stress and burden is not the only dominant risk factor. She stresses that the reality of elder abuse demands the development of new explanatory and intervention models (Anetzberger, 2000). A number of socio-demographic factors have been identified as possible contributors to elder abuse. Levine (2003) lists the following factors: intra-family stressors including separation, divorce and financial strain, ageism, increased life expectancy and medical advances that have prolonged years lived with chronic disease (Levine, 2003). Elders are abused in homes, hospitals, nursing homes and in other institutions (Nelson, 2002). Prevalence or incidence data on elder abuse in institutional settings are lacking despite the vast existing literature on issues of quality of care (Wolf, 2000). Most elder abuse and neglect takes place in the home and is inflicted by family, household members and paid caregivers (Smith, 2002). A survey conducted in one US state reported that 36% of nursing and support staff reported having witnessed at least one incident of physical abuse by another staff member during the prior year and 10% admitted to having committed at least one act of physical abuse themselves (Wolf, 2000). A cross-sectional retrospective chart review of new in- and outpatients conducted by a Montreal General Hospital Division of Geriatric Psychiatry in one calendar year, studied the prevalence and correlates of four types of elder abuse and neglect in a geriatric psychiatry service (Vida, Monks, Des Rosiers, 2002) Although this study was limited by a clinically derived and a relatively small sample size of 126 patients, it was reported that elder abuse and neglect was suspected or confirmed in 16% of patients studied. Living with non-spouse family, friends, or other persons in a non-supervised setting, along with a history of family disruptions by widowhood, divorce, or separation were significantly correlated with abuse, while statistically non-significant yet potentially important identifiers included female gender, alcohol abuse, and low functional status. Elders are most at risk from family members (Nelson, 2002). The perpetrator is a family member in two-thirds of known cases of abuse and neglect and was identified as adult children or spouses (National Center on Elder Abuse, 1998). Despite the popular image of elder abuse occurring in a setting of a dependent victim and an overstressed caregiver, there is accumulating evidence that it is neither ca regiver stress levels nor the dependence level of the victim that are the core factors leading to elder abuse (Wolf, 2000). It is now felt that stress may be a contributing factor in abuse cases but it does not explain the phenomenon (Wolf, 2000). Recent studies on the relationships between caregiver stress, Alzheimers disease, and elder abuse suggest that it is the long-term or pre-abuse nature of the relationships which is the important factor in predicting instances of maltreatment (Wolf, 2000). The mental status of the perpetrator which includes emotional, psychiatric, and substance a buse problems, the dependency of the perpetrator on the victim, and the lack of outside the home external support for the victim continue to emerge as elder abuse risk factors (Wolf, 2000). A cohort of 2,812 community-dwelling adults over the age of 65 from the

The Advantages of Communism Over Capitalism Essay -- Politics Politica

The Advantages of Communism Over Capitalism The purpose of this essay is to prove that Communism is a better form of economic organization, compared to capitalism. I will use the following examples of quality, employment, health care and society, to show why Communism is a better form of economic organization. First of all in a communist regime, people are all equal to each other no matter how educated that person is, in the eyes of the government. For example a Surgeon how is very well educated is equal in status with a peasant farmer because in communism their is no such thing as lower class, middle class and upper class. Eliminating economic boundaries which separate people, benefits the whole society because then we eliminate the have and have not, as a circumstance it eliminates crime. Secondly in a Communist economic system people are never unemployed because the government owns the means of production. Meaning the governments owns all the factories and stores because their is no private owner ship in a Communist system. This is good because the government can control and decide what is needed for the good of society and produce it. Another reason why Communism is good is because everyone in the country is provided with a job, house and food; no one is denied the essentials of life. One of the most fundamental human rights is access to adequate health care. In Communist countries the right of access to health care is very well practiced, because no one is denied health care. In a Communist country you could go to the Doctor for lets say a Flu shot or a complicated procedure such as a triple coronary bypass surgery and the government will pick up the tab, because in co... ...that Communism is really not that bad if it is administered right. When I started to compare and criticize capitalism compared to Communism I found out that Capitalism is really a harsh form economic organization in which the people of a same race or country are forced to compete at every thing they do. Not only that In a capitalism society many people how can't compete in a Capitalistic society are thrown aside and labeled as bums but society doesn't look to see what caused the problem and let these people spoil, because again in a capitalistic society "only the strong survive. Overall my views of Capitalism are true meaning that I do believe in Capitalism, but inside of me I feel that a little bit of Communism mixed with capitalism will make a perfect form of economic organization in which the whole of society benefits and moves forward. The Advantages of Communism Over Capitalism Essay -- Politics Politica The Advantages of Communism Over Capitalism The purpose of this essay is to prove that Communism is a better form of economic organization, compared to capitalism. I will use the following examples of quality, employment, health care and society, to show why Communism is a better form of economic organization. First of all in a communist regime, people are all equal to each other no matter how educated that person is, in the eyes of the government. For example a Surgeon how is very well educated is equal in status with a peasant farmer because in communism their is no such thing as lower class, middle class and upper class. Eliminating economic boundaries which separate people, benefits the whole society because then we eliminate the have and have not, as a circumstance it eliminates crime. Secondly in a Communist economic system people are never unemployed because the government owns the means of production. Meaning the governments owns all the factories and stores because their is no private owner ship in a Communist system. This is good because the government can control and decide what is needed for the good of society and produce it. Another reason why Communism is good is because everyone in the country is provided with a job, house and food; no one is denied the essentials of life. One of the most fundamental human rights is access to adequate health care. In Communist countries the right of access to health care is very well practiced, because no one is denied health care. In a Communist country you could go to the Doctor for lets say a Flu shot or a complicated procedure such as a triple coronary bypass surgery and the government will pick up the tab, because in co... ...that Communism is really not that bad if it is administered right. When I started to compare and criticize capitalism compared to Communism I found out that Capitalism is really a harsh form economic organization in which the people of a same race or country are forced to compete at every thing they do. Not only that In a capitalism society many people how can't compete in a Capitalistic society are thrown aside and labeled as bums but society doesn't look to see what caused the problem and let these people spoil, because again in a capitalistic society "only the strong survive. Overall my views of Capitalism are true meaning that I do believe in Capitalism, but inside of me I feel that a little bit of Communism mixed with capitalism will make a perfect form of economic organization in which the whole of society benefits and moves forward.

Native American Cultural Assessment: The Cherokee Essay -- essays rese

The word Cherokee comes from a Creek word "Chelokee" meaning "people of a different speech." In their own language the Cherokee called themselves the Aniyunwiya or "principal people" or the Keetoowah, "people of Kituhwa." The Cherokee are perhaps one of the most interesting of Native American Groups. Their life and culture are closely intertwined with early American settlers and the history of our own nation’s struggle for freedom. In the interest of promoting tolerance and peace, and with regard to the United States government’s handling of Native affairs, their story is one that is painful, stoic, and must not be forgotten. The Cherokee people were a large and powerful tribe. The Cherokees' Macro-Siouan- Iroquoian language and their migration legends demonstrate that the tribe originated to the north of their traditional Southeastern homelands. Linguists believe that the Cherokee migrated from the Great Lakes area to the Southeast over three thousand years ago. The Cherokee language is a branch of the Iroquoian language family, related to Cayuga, Seneca, Onondega, Wyandot-Huron, Tuscarora, Oneida and Mohawk. Original locations of the Cherokee were the southern Appalachian Mountains, including western North and South Carolina, northern Georgia and Alabama, southwest Virginia, and the Cumberland Basin of Tennessee, Kentucky, and northern Alabama. The Cherokee sometimes refer to themselves as Ani-Kituhwagi, "the people of Kituhwa". Kituhwa was the name of an ancient city, located near present Bryson City, NC, which was the center of the Cherokee Nation. Long before Columbus discovered the "New World" or Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived, the Cherokee territory stretched from the Ohio River to the north, and southward into Georgia and Alabama. Their homelands extended over 135,000 square miles. Cherokee villages had populations of about 350 to 600 persons. Before contact with Europeans, families built round, earth-covered homes for the winter. For the warmer summers they built larger, rectangular homes. The rectangular homes had upright poles forming a framework. The outer covering was bark, wood or woven siding coated with earth and clay. The Cherokee were primarily an agricultural people. They relied heavily on corn, beans, and squash, supplemented by hunting and the gathering of wil... ...r near the North Carolina reservation. Cherokee tribal governments have fairly liberal membership standards compared to other tribes. Some population estimates exceed 370,000, which would make the Cherokee the largest Native American group in the United States It is amazing that through European epidemics, attempts to assimilate eradicate and remove, that any Cherokee are left today. Despite all they have endured and lost, Cherokee levels of education and living standard ranks among the highest of all Native American tribes. I am proud to be an American citizen. I am also especially proud that my Mother’s Great-Grandmother, a descendant of Trail of Tears survivors, was Cherokee. BIBLIOGRAPHY Thomas E. Mails, The Cherokee People: The Story of the Cherokees from Earliest Origins to Contemporary Times Merwyn S. Garbarino, Native American Heritage The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians http://www.charweb.org/neighbors/na/cherokee.htm James Mooney, History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees Morris L. Wardell, A Political History of the Cherokee Nation 1838-1907 Collier, Peter. When Shall They Rest? The Cherokees' Long Struggle with America

Brave New World :: essays research papers

Title: Brave New World Significance of Title: In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, in act 5 scene 1, on line 204, Mira states: â€Å"How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in’t!† To say the least, this book has quite a few references to Shakespeare. This segment in particular is used, because the setting of the book is of a ‘brave new world’ where almost everything is different from our current situation, and outwardly, every member of the society seems content in their position. It is likely that Huxley thought this was slightly ironic, as what appears to be a perfect government is in reality ultimately oppressive of the most basic personal freedoms, infringing even upon the opinions of its constituents. Author: Aldous Huxley Significant facts about the author: Aldous Huxley was born in Surrey, England on July 26, 1894 to a family deeply rooted in England's literary and scientific tradition. Huxley's father, Leonard Huxley, was the son of Thomas Henry Huxley, a well-known biologist who gained the nickname "Darwin's bulldog" for supporting Charles Darwin's evolutionary ideas. His mother, Julia Arnold, was related to the important nineteenth-century poet and essayist Matthew Arnold. Brought up by a family of teachers and scientists, Huxley had an exceptional education. His intelligence was very well balanced between English writing and science, making him a very good science fiction writer. Huxley was very eager to believe new theories and ideas in the science world, and quickly incorporated them into his novels, which, although unscientific, produced extremely entertaining results. Huxley’s writing has also been affected by a partial blindness that he contracted at an early age. First of all, it forced him out of his preferred career as a doctor, and it also show up in quite a few of his novels as a theme. After graduating from Oxford in 1916, Huxley began to make a name for himself writing satirical pieces about the British upper class. Though these writings were skillful and gained Huxley an audience and literary name, they were generally considered to be somewhat vapid and meaningless. Huxley continued to write prolifically, working as an essayist and journalist, and publishing four volumes of poetry before beginning to work on novels. Without giving up his other writing, beginning in 1921, Huxley produced a series of novels at an astonishing rate: Crome Yellow was published in 1921, followed by Antic Hay in 1923, Those Barren Leaves in 1925, and Point Counter Point in 1928.

Construction Management Essay

a. (1) Stanley’s focus is on maximizing profits. This is the correct goal because the goal of anyfirm, and therefore its financial manager, should be to maximize its value and by extensionthe wealth of the shareholders. (2) There is potential for an agency problem if Stanley decides to go ahead and invest in thesoftware developer. This investment will cause a temporary decrease in the earnings per share (EPS) of the firm which will mean fewer earnings at the present time for thestakeholders. This may be a problem if the goal of the shareholders is to gain moneysooner than later. However, it the goal of the shareholders is simply to maximize wealth,there may not be an agency problem since the goal of the financial manager, Stanley, is the same as the shareholders’. b. Since there is no preferred stock; Earnings available for common stockholders= Net Profit After Taxes No of shares of common stock outstanding = 50 000 EPS = NPAT/ no. of shares of common stock outstanding EPS show a steady increase over the past five years indicating that Stanley is achieving hisgoal of maximizing profits. c. Operating Cash Flow (OCF) for 2012OCF = {Earnings Before Interest and TaxesÃâ€"(1– Tax rate)} + Depreciation OCF = {EBIT Ãâ€" (1– T)} + Depreciation = {$89 000 Ãâ€" (1 – 0.20)} + $11 000 = $82 200 Free Cash Flow (FCF) for 2012 FCF = OCF1– Net Fixed Assets Investments – Net Current Assets Investment FCF = OCF – NFAI – NCAI NFAI = Change in net fixed assets + Depreciation= ($132 000– $128 000) + $11000 = $15 000 NCAI = Chance in current assets – Change in (Accounts Payable + Accruals) = ($421 000 – $62 000) – {($136 000 + $27 000) – ($126 000 + $25 000)}=$47 000 FCF = $82 200 – $15 000 – $47 000 = $20 200 Both the operating cash flow and the free cash flow are positive indicating that Stanley wasable to generate adequate cash flow to cover both operating expenses and investments inassets. There was also $20 200 left over to pay to investors. a. (1) Upon what financial goal does Stanley seem to be focusing? Is it the correct goal? Why or why not? Stanley seems to be focusing on profit maximization, in another word the EPS performance. It is not the correct goal, as profits do not necessarily result in cash flows available to the stockholders, only when earnings increases are accompanied by increased future cash flows would a higher stock price be expected, therefore the stockholders’ wealth would be maximized. (2) Could a potential agency problem exist in this firm? Explain. There is a potential agency problem exist in this firm. First of all, he owns only 40% of the firm, but he manages actively all aspects of its activities and the other stockholders are not active in management of the firm, so he is an agent of the other owners. Secondly he is reluctant to take more than moderate risk, which might jeopardize his goal of profit maximization and reduce his personal wealth, so there is a conflict between owner wealth maximization and his personal goals. Scri Bd: (a) Upon what financial goal does Stanley seem to be focusing? Is it the correct goal? Why or Why not? The financial goal that Stanley seems to be focusing on is maximizing the profitability of Track Software Inc. which is apparent in years 1997 to 2003 increases in net profit from ($50,000) to $48,000 respectively. His financial goal of profit maximization was also evident in his hesitance to hire a software developer because this would result in a salary cash outflow of $80,000 per year and lower the Earnings Per Share(EPS) in years to come. Par:(1)Stanley is focusing on maximizing profit, as shown by the increase in net profits over theperiod1997 to 2003. His dilemma about adding the software designer, which would depress earnings for the near term, also demonstrates his emphasis on this goal .Maximizing wealth should be the correct goal for a financial manager. Wealth maximization takes a long-term perspective and also considers risk and cash flows .Profits maximization does not integrate these three factors (cash flow, timing, risk) in the decision process (2) An agency problem exists when managers place personal goals ahead of corporate goals. Since Stanley owns 40% of the outstanding equity, it is unlikely that an agency problem would arise at Track Software A. Maximization of shareholder wealth, which means maximization of share price,should be theprimary goal of the firm. Unlike profit maximization, this goalconsiders timing, cash flows, andrisk. It also reflects the worth of the owners’investment in the firm at any time. It is the value theycan realize should theydecide to sell their shares. B. Yes, there appears to be an agency problem. Although compensation for management is tied toprofits, it is not directly linked to share price. In addition,management’s actions with regard topollution controls suggest a  profitmaximization focus, which would maximize their earnings,rather than an attemptto maximize share price Eco Plastics Company ECO Plastics Established in 2000, ECO Plastics Ltd is the UK’s leading and highest quality plastic bottle recycler producing plastics for soft drinks and milk bottles. Challenge In March 2011, the company signed a ten-year joint venture deal, a first in the UK drinks manufacturing industry, to supply the global enterprise with high quality food-grade recycled material (rPET). In order to achieve Coca-Cola’s target of including 25% rPET in all plastic packaging within Great Britain by 2012, ECO Plastics needed to expand their premises. Jonathan Short, Managing Director of ECO Plastics Ltd said, â€Å"We were thrilled to sign the joint venture deal with a company of the calibre of Coca-Cola and begin the next important step for our business. All we needed to do was secure the additional capital required to expand our premises and fund our operations.† Solution ECO Plastics approached a number of finance providers but found that due to the economic climate, lending was restricted. â€Å"It was difficult at first to find the financial backing we needed to expand our business and meet the needs of our exciting venture with Coca-Cola,† said Mr. Short. â€Å"We approached Close Brothers and discussed a structured finance solution, tailored to meet our specific business requirements. The deal was primarily a leasing contract, secured against our existing assets which incorporated invoice finance to fund our operations during the expansion.† Result The combined asset-based financial platform of  £18million provided by Close Brothers Invoice Finance and Close Brothers Leasing supported the construction and operation of the expansion to ECO Plastics’ processing plant, which completed in 2012. â€Å"Without Close Brothers, we would have been unable to fulfil our agreement with Coca-Cola which would have not only been devastating to our business, but to the industry as a whole,† said Mr. Short. â€Å"Working with Close Brothers has afforded us with the opportunity to expand our business and realise our true growth potential as we continue to  work toward becoming the world-leader in sustainable packaging.†

Mexican Drug War

Since Felipe Calderon became the president of Mexico in December of 2006, more than 30,000 people have died in this nationwide turf war. A large majority of these murders are happening in the states of Chihuahua and Baja, California both of which border the United States. Soon after Calderon took office he launched a military-led war on drugs and that set off conflicts all over the country between rivaling cartels. Not only has there been a war between the cartels, there’s an overall threat to all of the citizens of Mexico because nobody is above the hell these savages are unleashing. All across the southwest United States the drug cartels have been smuggling drugs and weapons between countries illegally. Within the last month U. S. and Mexican authorities unearthed a 2200 ft. long tunnel under the border. This tunnel was used to smuggle drugs into San Diego, California where cartel commanders distribute the marijuana throughout the country. Then going back into Tijuana, â€Å"mules† would carry guns back. This tunnel was state-of-the-art with air conditioning, ventilation, and tongue-and-groove boarding to keep the ground level for the safe transportation of the weed. Other than weed; heroin, cocaine, and guns are also transferred between borders. 70,000 U. S. -originated firearms were recovered between 2007 and 2009. Along the two thousand mile long border between the United States and Mexico there are over seven thousand licensed gun dealers on the U. S. side. Just like the drugs moving North, the guns are flowing South in the trunks of cars, under the beds of truck, and sometimes hidden by clothing in the floorboards of cars. The main thing issue with these cartels is that innocent men and women are dying every day for the sake of a dollar. Some of these people that are dying were totally in the clear and had nothing to do with Mexico, they were just vacationing. Two students who attended the University of Texas in El Paso were hiking through the mountains and accidentally crossed over the wrong hill at the wrong time and that cost them their lives. Along with those two students, the US State Department released a statement saying eighty other American travelers had been murdered in Chihuahua alone. Even Mexican citizens are dying for no reason. A group of twenty vacationers from Michoacan, Mexico were visiting Acapulco and a group of armed assailants snatched them up and took them away. The only reason the men’s bodies were found is because two severely beaten men made a video and broadcast it on YouTube in hopes that somebody would find the mass grave. This group of men died all because their kidnappers thought they were henchmen for a rival cartel. The United States being involved in the Mexican Drug War shows all six steps of the government function: Foreign relations and diplomacy to help with military defense while they try to gain control of the country. Developing business strength while controlling the cartel interactions is another part of the government function. Oil is a major natural resource in Mexico, so helping keep it protected also while keeping its use under control. Another thing is the enforcement and regulation of fair and responsible business practice to handle the legalities of NAFTA in check when necessary. Since the United States feels the need to be a global police state, we also help determine and enforce the laws and help citizens gain more rights. And most importantly, provide public goods and services for the well-being of the community as a whole. Things that the National Guard is there to help with, like vaccination programs, disaster relief, and basic healthcare. The primary policy that would have helped our nation and the drug war was California’s Proposition 19. Proposition 19 also known as the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act was wanted for the decriminalization of marijuana for specific purposes. Many people argued that it would help with cut off the funding to the violent cartels along with helping out California’s budget shortfall and redirecting law enforcement’s resources to more dangerous crimes. While opponents claimed that it contains gaps and flaws that may have serious unintended consequences on public safety, workplaces, and federal funding. However, even if the proposition had passed, the sale of cannabis would have remained illegal under federal law via the Controlled Substance Act. Being active in the Mexican Drug War hasn’t helped the approval rating of the government much at all. Two things dealing with Mexico and its citizens that aren’t helping the public opinion are the DREAM Act and the US Merida Initiative. The DREAM Act is a bill proposed by the House of Representatives that would give citizenship to immigrants who moved into the United States as a minor, have graduated from high school, and are on good moral standings. And the U. S. Merida Initiative s planned cooperation between the United States, Mexico, and countries in Central America with the aim of combating drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and money laundering. It may sound good, but the government has funneled more than $1. 4 billion into this initiative. Yet the US Department of Education has to cut spending in half? Our government is obviously overstepping its boundaries, when is it not? For example Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement division (ICE) was created to shore up the borders after September 11th. But forced drugging and warrantless raids weren't part of the mandate and in May of 2008, the Washington Post reported that there have been more than 250 cases of the government giving deportees psychiatric drugs with no medical excuse or reason. Yet ICE itself disputes that number of cases and says that only 180 out of close to 600,000 were involuntarily sedated. Another way the government is overstepping its boundaries is with the legalization of medical marijuana in California. Not the fact that it’s legal, but what happens to those who need it and use it. Those who are medically permitted to have marijuana and travel within seventy-five miles of the Mexican border have to deal with Border Patrol and their â€Å"Fourth Amendment-free Zone†. That permits warrantless searches to any and all comers in a bid to stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Patients and advocacy groups are complaining that the border area checkpoints operated by the Border Patrol are sweeping up patients, detaining them, seizing their medicine, and sometimes arresting them on federal drug possession charges.