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