RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Beyond the physical and mental difficulties that come with aging, becoming older and more frail makes an elder more vulnerable. Unfortunately, there are many people that can take advantage of those weaknesses, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Elder abuse can take many forms
but is best defined as an action by a
person in a position of trust which
causes harm to an older person. While
most people think of elder abuse as
physical, there are six types of abuse.

The six types of elder abuse are:
n Neglect n Financial
n Physical n Abandonment
n Sexual n Emotional/Psychological

Any of these can fall into one of three
categories: (1) domestic elder abuse,
(2) institutional elder abuse and (3)
self-neglect or self-abuse. This means
that the abuse can happen within the
home, by a caregiver or family member,
at or within an institution or care
facility, or by the elder him/herself.

Who are the Abusers and
Why Does It Occur?
More than two-thirds of elder abuse
perpetrators are family members of the
victims, typically serving in a caregiving
role. Because of this, it is primarily
considered a type of domestic violence.

Primary reasons that abuse happen
include:
n Caregiver Stress
n Impairment of Dependent Elder
n Cycle of Violence
n Personal Problems of Abusers

Many areas have 24-hour toll-free
numbers that are available to report
elder abuse. It is also important to contact
the patient’s healthcare provider to
get documentation regarding the
elder’s condition.

The following indicators, by themselves, do not necessarily signify abuse
or neglect. They may be helpful, however, in assessing abuse.

Possible Indicators of Physical Abuse
n Cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds
n Bruises, welts, discoloration
n An elder’s report of being hit, slapped,
kicked or mistreated
n Broken eyeglasses/frames, physical
signs of punishment or restraint
n Burns or burn marks
Possible Indicators of
Emotional/Psychological Abuse
n Helplessness n Withdrawal
n Agitation n Depression
n Implausible stories n Denial
n Fear n Hesitation to
talk openly

Possible Indicators of Financial Abuse
n Unusual or inappropriate activity in bank
accounts
n Signatures on checks, etc., that do not
resemble the senior’s signature, or
signed when the elder cannot write
n Power of attorney given, or recent
changes in or creation of a will, when
the person is incapable of making such
decisions
n Unusual concern by a caregiver that an
excessive amount of money is being
expended on the care of the older person
n Numerous unpaid bills, overdue rent,
when someone is supposed to be paying
the bills for a dependent elder
n Placement in a nursing home or residential
care facility which is not commensurate
with the size of the estate
n Missing personal belongings such as
art, silverware or jewelry
Possible Indicators of Caregiver Neglect
n Dirt, fecal/urine smell, or other health
and safety hazards in an elder’s living
environment.
n Rashes, sores, lice
n Elder is inadequately clothed
n Malnourishment or dehydration
n Untreated medical condition
Possible Indicators of Caregiver Abuse
n The elder may not be given the opportunity
to speak for him or herself, or see
others, without the presence of the caregiver
(suspected abuser)
n Attitudes of indifference or anger toward
the dependent person
n Blaming the elder for uncontrollable
acts, such as confusion or incontinence
n Aggressive behavior (threats, insults,
harassment) by caregiver toward the
elder
n Problems with alcohol or drugs
n Inappropriate display of affection by the
caregiver
n Social isolation of family, or isolation or
restriction of activity of the older adult
within the family unit by the caregiver
n Conflicting accounts of incidents by
family, supporters or the elder
n Unwillingness or reluctance by the caregiver
to comply with service providers in
care planning
n Inappropriate or unwarranted defensiveness
by caregiver
Possible Indicators of Self-Neglect
n Inability to manage personal finances,
e.g., hoarding, squandering, giving
money away or failure to pay bills
n Inability to manage activities of daily
living, including personal care, shopping,
meal preparation, housework, etc.
n Suicidal acts, wanderings, refusing
medical attention, isolation, substance
abuse
n Hazardous or unsafe living conditions
(no plumbing, no heat, no running
water, animal infested living quarters,
etc.)
n Rashes, sores, fecal/urine smell,
inadequate clothing, malnourishment,
dehydration, etc.
n Changes in intellectual functioning, e.g.,
confusion, inappropriate or no
response, disorientation to time and
place, memory failure, incoherence, etc.
n Missing medical appointments