Abuse can happen to any elder. Learn about the different types of abuse, how to recognize the signs of elder abuse, & where to get help.
Elder abuse is a serious problem that sadly, is surprisingly common in the United States. It affects the lives of millions of elderly individuals.
According to the CDC, from 2002 to 2016:
- Over 643,000 elders were treated for assault in emergency rooms
- Over 19,000 seniors died as a result of abuse
- 1 in 10 people over 60 living at home were victims of some type of elder abuse
- Elder abuse is presumed to be significantly under-reported.
Elder abuse can result in physical injuries, medical emergencies, emotional scars, financial ruin, and more. Even when there are no obvious physical signs of abuse does not mean abuse is not occurring to the elder.
It is important to be alert and know what to look for to protect all seniors from abuse, neglect and mistreatment in its various forms.
WHAT IS ELDER ABUSE AND WHY DOES IT HAPPEN
Elder abuse is defined as non-accidental action, or failure to take necessary action, that results in real or potential harm to an elder. An elder is considered any person over 60 years old.
Elder abuse is often committed by someone that the elder knows and trusts. It can happen when well-meaning people are overworked and overwhelmed, but it can also occur when a predator takes advantage of an elder’s vulnerability.
There are seven distinct types of elder abuse.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is often overlooked; however, because elderly individuals sometimes suffer from memory issues, they can be easily conned into giving someone money. They also may not realize if someone is stealing money from them.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is more common than many people realize. Sometimes, people take out their anger on elderly individuals. Some of the most common signs of physical abuse include burn injuries, cuts, broken bones, and obvious limps.
Emotional Abuse
Elderly individuals can also be targeted through emotional abuse. For example, some people may verbally abuse elderly individuals when they are not doing something fast enough, forget something, or lose their train of thought. It is important for everyone to remain patient when speaking to an elderly individual.
Neglect Abuse
The most common form of elder abuse is neglect. There are numerous ways an elderly individual might be neglected. For example, someone who is unable to bathe themselves may depend on someone else to come and bathe them. If they are not being bathed, they are being neglected. Some elderly individuals might also not be given the required food or medications. As a result, they may lose weight, or medical conditions could get worse. This is an example of passive neglect.
Sexual Abuse
There are even situations where elderly individuals can be sexually abused. Just like everyone else, elderly individuals should be believed if they claim someone has been sexually assaulting them.
WHAT PUTS AN ELDER AT HIGH RISK FOR ABUSE
There are certain factors that increase an elder’s risk of becoming a victim of abuse. These don’t always lead to abuse, but they do tend to make it more likely.
Poor Health of the Elder
- Poor physical health
- Poor memory or dementia
- Poor mental health or diagnosis of mental illness
- Tendencies toward challenging behavior (such as resistance to assistance, aggression or mood swings)
Preparedness, State, and Wellbeing of the Caregiver
- Poor training or understanding of the elder’s conditions, needs or how to perform necessary care
- Poor health of the caregiver
- Hesitance to accept help
- Poor coping skills
- Alcohol or drug misuse
- Poor self-care habits
- Difficulty sleeping
Relationship Challenges
- Family history of abuse
- Past or current volatile emotions, behavior or relationships
Living Arrangements
- Elder is living with an unprepared caregiver
- Isolated living situation
- Poor social support
- Few assistive services (such as home care, hospice, counseling, or therapy)
Financial Challenges
- The elder or caregiver is financially dependent on the other
- Limited funds
Risks Unique to Institutions
- Poor staff training
- Chronic staffing problems or overworked staff
- Staff burnout
- Stressful working conditions
- Low standards of care
- Poor administrative oversight
- The physical environment is unclean, unkempt, uncomfortable or in disrepair
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF ELDER ABUSE
The signs of elder abuse can vary significantly depending on the type of abuse being perpetrated. Abuse can be difficult to discern at times. While a pattern of obvious bruising or injury might be apparent, other signs can be very subtle. Some of the most common signs of elder abuse include:
-
- Signs of malnourishment, including unexplained weight loss
- Poor hygiene, particularly odd smells and stains that indicate someone has not bathed in a long time
- Unexplained injuries including broken bones, cuts, and bruises
- Money that mysteriously goes missing from bank accounts without any explanation
- Rapidly progressing mental health issues including depression and anxiety
Symptoms of abuse may manifest as vague behavior changes, which might be hard to distinguish from symptoms of dementia or depression. Pay attention to any intuitive feelings that something may be wrong in a senior’s situation.
Some of the more general signs that something is wrong could include:
- Sudden changes in behavior, such as becoming more nervous, jumpy, aggressive or withdrawn
- Losing interest in favorite activities
- Difficulty sleeping
- Unexplained or sudden weight loss
Any of these changes could indicate that an elder is emotionally distraught or afraid, which could be a result of physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
Other signs that should raise some red flags to possible abuse could include:
- Increased nervousness around a particular caregiver
- Hostility or frustration in the relationships between an elder and the caregiver
- Threatening, controlling or demeaning behavior from the caregiver toward the elder
- A caregiver who won’t permit the elder to be alone with trusted friends and family members
While the caregiver may not intend to neglect the elder, it is important that they are either able to recognize and meet their needs, or to involve someone else who is. Geriatric care managers, home care agencies or other services can help support the elder and their caregivers, and recognize these changing needs.
Not all of these signs necessarily mean that abuse is taking place. However, they should be taken as red flags and may warrant further investigation, especially if there are multiple signs present. If something just doesn’t seem quite right in the situation, do not ignore it.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SPOT ELDER ABUSE
If you spot signs of elder abuse, the most important thing you can do is believe someone when they tell you they are being abused. Then, you need to report the situation to the authorities.
Do everything you can to document what happened, and try to encourage the person you love to speak up about his or her situation if he or she is ready.
Depend on the authorities to conduct a complete, full, and transparent investigation. If your loved one has been targeted through elder abuse, there is a chance that someone else in the community may have been abused as well.
It is important to hold the responsible parties accountable while also getting elderly individuals the help they deserve.
CONTACT YOUR KEY TO SENIOR LIVING OPTIONS
Elder abuse is far more common than many people realize, and there are multiple types of elder abuse. Neglect is the most common form of elder abuse, but there are numerous other types of elder abuse as well. It is important to believe people who tell you they are being abused, and it is incumbent on us to be vigilant for signs of elder abuse.
The best way to deal with elder abuse is to prevent it from happening in the first place. That is why you should rely on experienced professionals, such as Your Key To Senior Living Options and our Team of Senior Living Advisors, to help you find the right senior living community. Our services are free of charge to seniors and their families. Contact us today to speak to a member of our team!
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