TYPES OF ELDER ABUSE
Elder abuse occurs when someone intentionally harms or puts an older adult at risk, including putting them at risk by a failure to act. According to the National Council on Aging, 1 in 5 Americans aged 60 and older experience different types of elder abuse, yet only 1 in 24 cases are reported.
The types are as described below:
Physical Abuse:
- Unexplained signs of injury like bruises, welts, scars, broken bones or sprains
- Over or under medication
- Broken eyeglasses
- Signs of being restrained, like rope marks on wrists.
- Caregiver’s refusal to allow you to see the person alone.
- Drug overdose or apparent failure to take medication regularly.
- Physical or chemical restraints for caregiver’s convenience
Emotional Abuse:
- Threatening, belittling or controlling caregiver behavior that you witness
- Someone isolates an elder; refusing to allow access to visitors, mail, phone, etc.
- Uncharacteristic behavior such as withdrawal or changes in alertness.
Sexual Abuse:
- Bruises around breasts or genitals
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases or unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
- Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
Neglect by Caregivers or Self-Neglect:
- Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration
- Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores
- Unsanitary living conditions: dirt, bugs, soiled bedding
- Poor hygiene, lack of clean or appropriate clothing
- Unsafe living conditions (no heat or running water; faulty electrical wiring, fire hazards
- Desertion of the elder at a public place
Financial Exploitation:
- Significant or unauthorized withdrawals from the elder’s accounts
- Sudden changes in the elder’s financial condition
- Items or cash missing from the household
- Suspicious changes in wills, power of attorney, titles, and policies
- Addition of names to the elder’s signature card at the bank
- Unpaid bills or lack of medical care, although the elder has money to pay for them
- Financial activity the elder couldn’t have done, (ATM withdrawals by a bedridden account holder)
- Unnecessary services, goods or subscriptions
- Unusual change in spending habits
Scams:
- Constant phone calls from various phone numbers
- Elder/adult suddenly wiring money
- Large accumulation of lottery mail
- Elder/Adult secretive about a relationship with someone they have not met in person