Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTION

Bobby Burroughs
Interview Reflection
Human Behavior II
Georgia State University
April 14, 2015

INTERVIEW REFLECTION

Between April 9th through the 13th of 2015, I was able to speak with three individuals at
the Alzheimers Association, a national non-profit agency. I spoke with Tony and David, both
Technical Assistants who answer basic inquiries. I spoke at length with a Care Consultant named
Kanice. The Care Consultants have Masters degrees in nursing, social work or counseling.
I began my interviews by mentioning a 2006 study by Gainey & Payne that states
individuals with Alzheimers and related diseases are 2.25 times more likely to be abused than
other late adulthood individuals (p. 247). I asked why this would be the case. Tony stated that the
disease may make the individual confused, which can lead to combative episodes (personal
communication, April 9, 2015). He also said that those with Alzheimers can have an increased
sexual drive, which may lead them to inappropriate sexual behavior. David stated that in many
cases the afflicted individual may become aggressive, which can lead to frustration and
reciprocal aggression. He also stated that caregivers get frustrated from answering the same
questions for someone with memory issues, as well as stressed out from the physical demands
(personal communication, April 10, 2015). Neither Tony nor David felt qualified to speak about
sexual violence, and were able to arrange for my interview with the Care Consultant.
Kanice stated that abuse to the elderly is a huge topic, to include physical, financial as
well as sexual abuse. She said Alzheimers patients are more susceptible because they may not
be able to remember the abuse or have the verbal ability to report it (personal communication,
April 13, 2015). She feels the most important indicator is the victims reaction to the perpetrator,
as they may be afraid or intimidated. While she admits an individuals reaction may not
necessarily indicate abuse, she says it is something to watch for. By analyzing the body language
of an individual, she believes you may get indications if they are reacting in self-defense by
clenching their fists, pulling away or flinching. She was clear that there are no black and white

INTERVIEW REFLECTION

answers when it comes to suspicions of sexual abuse in patients who cannot communicate. Her
suggestion was to watch the interactions and take notice if someone responds negatively to a
particular individual.
Kanice talked at length about the changing view of sexuality in late adulthood. She said
the greatest question to ask is whether a relationship is consensual. For instance, a husband may
want conjugal visits with his wife who has Alzheimers, and she may or may not be receptive.
Other issues with Alzheimers patients include their mistaking individuals for someone else. For
instance, she gets calls from daughters saying that their father is trying to touch their breasts. In
five years time, she only recalls one complaint concerning sexual abuse, where a daughter
thought her father was being raped by a woman in a facility. Kanice stated complaints in a
facility receiving government funding would go to an ombudsman, while individuals in private
homes would be investigated by Adult Protective Services.
Our topic for young and middle adulthood was human trafficking. While this issue does
not relate as well to late adulthood, there are similarities between that and sexual violence.
Victims in many cases are isolated and at the mercy of the perpetrator. In human trafficking, a
victims need for an emotional connection is exploited. In older adults, the sexual violence is
more likely to occur because they are a silent victim.
This was a difficult topic to discuss with people. As soon as the term sexual violence was
mentioned, many people became flustered, further showing the problem with awareness of this
issue. Like most people, I was uninformed about the severity of this problem. Next year I will be
doing my Field Education with AseraCare, working with elderly patients in nursing facilities,
hospice, and palliative care. I hope to gain more knowledge in gerontology and implement what I
have learned.

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4
References

Gainey, R.R. & Payne, B.K. (2006). Caregiver burden, elder abuse and Alzheimers disease:
Testing the relationship. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 29(2),
245-259.