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- Identifying Signs of Elder Abuse
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Identifying and Preventing Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is a growing problem. While we don't know all of the details about why abuse occurs or how to stop it, we do know that help is available for victims. Concerned people can spot warning signs of a possible problem, and make a call for help if an elder is in need of assistance.
Physical abuse is defined as the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment. Physical abuse may include but is not limited to such acts of violence as striking (with or without an object), beating, pushing, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching, and burning. In addition, inappropriate use of drugs and physical restraints, force-feeding, and physical punishment of any kind also are examples of physical abuse.
Emotional or psychological abuse is defined as the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts. Emotional/psychological abuse includes but is not limited to verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment. In addition, isolating an elderly person from his/her family, friends, or regular activities; and enforced social isolation are examples of emotional/psychological abuse.
Sexual abuse is defined as non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person. Sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent is also considered sexual abuse. It includes, but is not limited to, unwanted touching, all types of sexual assault or battery, such as rape, sodomy, coerced nudity, and sexually explicit photographing.
Elder neglect is defined as the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person's obligations or duties to an elder. Neglect may also include failure of a person who has fiduciary responsibilities to provide care for an elder or the failure on the part of an in-home service provider to provide necessary care.
Elder neglect typically means the refusal or failure to provide an elderly person with such life necessities as food, water, clothing, shelter, medicine, personal safety, and other essentials .
Elder abandonment is defined as the desertion of an elderly person by an individual who has assumed responsibility for providing care for an elder, or by a person with physical custody of an elder.
Financial or material exploitation is defined as the illegal or improper use of an elder's funds, property, or assets. Examples include, but are not limited to, cashing an elderly person's checks without authorization; forging an older person's signature; misusing or stealing an older person's money or possessions; coercing or deceiving an older person into signing any document and the improper use of guardianship, or power of attorney.
Self-neglect is characterized as the behavior of an elderly person that threatens his/her own health or safety. Self-neglect generally manifests itself in an older person as a refusal or failure to provide himself/herself with adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication (when indicated), and safety precautions.
Physical abuse is defined as the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment. Physical abuse may include but is not limited to such acts of violence as striking (with or without an object), beating, pushing, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching, and burning. In addition, inappropriate use of drugs and physical restraints, force-feeding, and physical punishment of any kind also are examples of physical abuse.
Emotional or psychological abuse is defined as the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts. Emotional/psychological abuse includes but is not limited to verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment. In addition, isolating an elderly person from his/her family, friends, or regular activities; and enforced social isolation are examples of emotional/psychological abuse.
Sexual abuse is defined as non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person. Sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent is also considered sexual abuse. It includes, but is not limited to, unwanted touching, all types of sexual assault or battery, such as rape, sodomy, coerced nudity, and sexually explicit photographing.
Elder neglect is defined as the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person's obligations or duties to an elder. Neglect may also include failure of a person who has fiduciary responsibilities to provide care for an elder or the failure on the part of an in-home service provider to provide necessary care.
Elder neglect typically means the refusal or failure to provide an elderly person with such life necessities as food, water, clothing, shelter, medicine, personal safety, and other essentials .
Elder abandonment is defined as the desertion of an elderly person by an individual who has assumed responsibility for providing care for an elder, or by a person with physical custody of an elder.
Financial or material exploitation is defined as the illegal or improper use of an elder's funds, property, or assets. Examples include, but are not limited to, cashing an elderly person's checks without authorization; forging an older person's signature; misusing or stealing an older person's money or possessions; coercing or deceiving an older person into signing any document and the improper use of guardianship, or power of attorney.
Self-neglect is characterized as the behavior of an elderly person that threatens his/her own health or safety. Self-neglect generally manifests itself in an older person as a refusal or failure to provide himself/herself with adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication (when indicated), and safety precautions.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of physical abuse include but are not limited to: - Bruises
- Black eyes
- Welts
- Lacerations
- Bone fractures and skull fractures
- Open wounds, cuts, and punctures
- Untreated injuries in various stages of healing
- Sprains, dislocations, and internal injuries/bleeding
- Broken eyeglasses/frames,
- Physical signs of being subjected to punishment
- Signs of being restrained;
- An elder's sudden change in behavior
- The caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see an elder alone.
Signs and symptoms of self-neglect include:
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Untreated or improperly attended medical conditions
- Poor personal hygiene
- Hazardous or unsafe living conditions/arrangements (e.g., improper wiring, no indoor plumbing, no heat, no running water)
- Unsanitary or unclean living quarters (e.g., animal/insect infestation, no functioning toilet, fecal/urine smell)
- Inappropriate and/or inadequate clothing
- Lack of necessary medical aids (e.g., eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures).
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