What is elder
abuse?
Elder abuse can take a number of
forms and may be defined in various ways. It is most often
defined as an action by a person in a position of trust which
causes harm to an elder. Harmful actions by strangers are usually
not considered elder abuse.
The exact incidence of elder
abuse is unknown. One estimate for the United States places the
number of seniors abused or mistreated at 1.5 million per year.
The figure may be much higher since elder abuse is often not
reported. In any event, with a rapidly growing elderly
population, the numbers can be expected to rise.
Who are the victims of
elder abuse?
Elder abuse can happen to
anyone, although elders who have mental or physical disabilities
are at the greatest risk. More women than men live to be elders,
but both sexes are equally at risk for abuse. Some older people
are abused by their spouses, others by children, others by
caregivers in institutions. As with other types of abuse, those
who abuse elders usually keep the victim socially isolated.
What types of elder
abuse occur?
There are many types of elder
abuse:
Physical
Emotional/Psychological
humiliating, insulting,
namecalling or threatening
treating an elder like a
child
Neglect
Financial
withholding money
forcing a senior to sell
personal property
stealing an older
person’s money or possessions
misusing Power of
Attorney
As well as
being abusive, many of these actions are also crimes.
Physical Abuse Indicators
frequent unexplained injuries (bruises,
broken limbs, welts, cuts, and grip marks), accompanied
by a habit of seeking medical assistance from a variety
of locations
reluctance to seek medical treatment
for injuries or denial of their existence
disorientation or grogginess (may
indicate the misuse of medication)
fear and edginess in the presence of a
caregiver or family member
Psychosocial Abuse
Indicators
exclusion of an elderly person from
discussions on major decisions
absence of emotional warmth toward the
elder
social isolation - whether physically
or emotionally imposed
verbal assault (shouting,
infantilization, degrading remarks)
Material Abuse
Indicators
cashing of pension cheques without
proper authorization from the elder
bills and expenses continuously unpaid
standard of living not appropriate for
an elder's income level
sudden sale of property belonging to an
elderly person
sudden revision of the elder's will,
naming a new beneficiary
disproportionately high contribution by
the elder to household expenses
granting of power of attorney under
suspicious conditions
Indicators of Neglect
malnutrition in an elderly person who
cannot get food without help
decline in personal hygiene
disregard of elder in family affairs
lack of needed medication or aids
lack of material needs of life
Links
Links that apply to elder abuse in the
U.S.:
The National Center on Elder Abuse is
one of the best Internet resources on elder abuse in the
U.S. It offers information about the forms elder abuse
takes, how it can be reported, and how widespread it is.
A good explanation of how elder abuse
occurs and why it happens. Put on the Internet by
Clinical Reference Systems, Ltd.
Extensive information and advice
concerning elder abuse and how to report it. Provided by
The World Wide Legal Information Association under the
Web Site name of "The Police Station." This is
site applies not just to the U.S., but to many other
countries as well.
Information on elder abuse and what to
do about it from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office
in New Jersey.
Information from Victim Services of New
York City on reporting mistreatment of a senior.
Outlines how the state of Missouri
deals with elder abuse and how citizens in that state can
report elderly abuse. Put on the Internet by the Missouri
Bar Association.
Links that apply to Canada and other countries:
A very comprehensive source of
information on elderly abuse written by The National
Clearinghouse on Family Violence, Health and Welfare,
Canada. Includes research.
Building Elder Abuse Resources is a
Canadian organization that provides information and
contacts concerning elder abuse. You can find general
definitions and research here.
A short but comprehensive summary on
elderly abuse provided by the Communications and
Executive Services Branch at the Department of Justice,
Canada.
A compilation of elderly research done
in Nordic countries.
News articles and bibliographies:
An article on elder abuse in the U.S.
from the Standard-Times of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
An article on elder abuse in Vancouver,
Canada.
A bibliography of books and research on
elder abuse put out on the Internet by the National
Victim Center Library Catalog.
A bibliography of research papers given
at the Age Concern Institute of Gerontology at King's
College, London.
BACK