The poverty-stricken Georgia family resented the old woman for living so long and believed she had no right to expect more. The few available resources were needed for the young. The grandmother is a memorable character in Tobacco Road , the Depression-era novel by Erskine Caldwell that described the poverty and ignorance of rural America, while introducing Americans to the topic of elder abuse.
Readers still shudder in horror at the heartless treatment of the old woman.
In fact, nearly 1 million older Americans are abused or neglected yearly, according to studies commissioned by Congress and various organizations. And those numbers reflect only the reported cases. Passive neglect is described as the unintentional failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation, or the infliction of distress without conscious or willful intent. The caregiver, perhaps an elderly frail spouse or sibling, may not be aware of the victim's needs, or may be physically or mentally incapable of providing them. Active neglect involves the intentional failure to fulfill caregiving obligations by inflicting emotional or physical stress or injury, abandonment, or the denial of medical attention, food, medication, or personal care, often for personal gain.