Elder abuse affects 1 in 10 seniors; during the pandemic, this number doubled to 1 in 5. Due to ageism, diagnosis, or a lack of common knowledge, many of these cases are ignored or forgotten. It can be hard to believe that anyone would hurt a senior, but it happens in more ways than just physical.

 Today, June 15th, is National Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It’s important to educate and inform the public on the realities and types of elder abuse, and how to properly report cases.

What is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse is any mistreatment that takes place against seniors, typically those over 60 years old. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, elder abuse is “an intentional act or failure to provide proper care for an elder that causes harm to the older adult.” 

It can be done by family, friends, caregivers, and other familiar people, such as neighbors. In some cases, elder abuse can also take place by people who have access to a loved one’s phone number or email address.

This happens in a few different ways. Let’s look at each form and see an example of what it could look like.

Physical Abuse

One of the most well-known forms of senior abuse is when a senior is given bodily harm by another person. However, while many people think physical is just hitting or slapping, it also can include the misuse of medications and force-feeding.

Sexual Abuse

As its name states, sexual abuse is any non-consensual sexual act forced onto another person by someone else. In elder abuse, this also includes seniors who are unable to give clear consent.

Emotional or Psychological Abuse

This form of abuse includes threats, intimidation, humiliation, isolation, and verbal assaults.  

An unfortunate common example of emotional abuse is when a caregiver will point out a humiliating situation, especially in front of other people. If a senior had a toileting accident, an emotionally abusive caregiver could make comments about changing diapers, being dirty or filthy, and how “difficult” a senior is being. Noticing emotional abuse can take time. Often, caregivers only speak this way to elders behind closed doors or when they are alone.

Neglect  

Neglect is the act of refusing or failing to provide proper care for an elder. This includes refusing to provide medications, food, water, clothing, or housing to a senior in a person’s care.  

Common neglect cases include: a senior being refused medication for an extended period; injuries being left untreated, which may also cause infection; a senior being left in soiled clothing; food or water being restricted to prevent bathroom trips; and a dirty environment which may include pests, tripping or falling hazards, and an increased risk for diseases.

Self-Neglect  

Self-neglect is a senior’s inability to care for themselves. This includes seniors who live alone in their own home or an Independent Living community. They may not be eating enough, caring for their hygiene, or receiving medical or mental health care as needed.

Sometimes, self-neglect speaks to an underlying illness that has not yet been addressed. In these cases, it’s a sign that families need to intervene for help. 

Financial Abuse

One of the under-reported forms of abuse, financial abuse is when there is illegal and/or unauthorized use of an elder’s resources, such as money, benefits, belongings, or assets that will negatively impact the elder. This can come from people both inside and outside of the elder’s support network.

Signs of Abuse

When abuse happens, it can leave lasting effects. Signs and symptoms of continued abuse will become clearer as the victim’s emotional and physical state begins to change.

Survivors of abuse are usually depressed, withdrawn, and self-isolating when in an abusive situation. They may pull away from social gatherings, friends, and family. Some may grow increasingly confused and depressed as they cannot find a way out of the situation. This often leads to feelings of hopelessness. 

Abuse can often be seen physically in many cases. Clothing may be dirty or unchanged. A senior may look dehydrated or underfed and be improperly medicated, resulting in a subdued state or increased agitation. Skin injuries, such as bed sores, can also be a sign of neglect. As with any abuse case, look out for scratches, bruises, cuts, or scars that cannot be explained.

Sometimes symptoms of medications, new environments, and illnesses can resemble abuse. The main difference is control. Medications can be changed to better fit a person’s needs. New places can be made comfortable, and anxiety will dissipate with time. Illnesses can be diagnosed and treated. Abuse, however, will continue until the abuser is removed from the situation.

How to Report Elder Abuse

While it can be nerve-wracking to report abuse of any kind, it’s important to remember that any report made in good faith will be properly investigated. In many cases, it is better to be on the safe side than wait for further proof.

 If the elder is in immediate danger, do not wait, call 911 or local Law Enforcement. Police will arrive to investigate the situation and take appropriate actions for the safety of the senior.

 If the elder is not in immediate danger, report abuse cases to either Adult Protective Services (APS) or State Licensing Agencies and Long-Term Care (LTC) ombudsman.  

APS will handle most cases of abuse; however, this also depends on your state.

State Licensing Agencies and LTC ombudsman advocate for residents’ rights and are the appropriate contact when abuse is happening in long-term care communities.

To find your local LTC ombudsman program to report abuse, check out the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care website.  

How to Prevent Elder Abuse

Abuse can be difficult to prevent but steps can still be taken. Before preparing to prevent abuse, the first step is knowing what constitutes abuse and where it can happen.  

First, keep in touch with senior loved ones, regardless of where they live. Whether it’s at home or in a community, knowing about the daily life of your loved one can help you spot signs of abuse.

Second, keep tabs on an elder’s financial situation. You may not have access to their assets, but you’ll be able to notice if bills are left unpaid and if a senior is getting more anxious over finances.

Third, create a support group for your loved one. A senior is more likely to open up about abuse if they have a trusted group of people to support them. Similarly, more people checking in on a loved one can deter abuse and make noticing signs easier

Fourth, keep personal information personal. Inform elders to never give out bank account information, credit card details, or Social Security over the phone or email. If they are confused or unsure if a call or email is legitimate, they should reach out to trusted loved ones. 

Fifth, research communities ahead of time and speak to current resident’s families if possible. Abuse cases in communities affect everyone, so current families and caregivers will be able to speak on behalf of the quality of care given and any concerns they may have.

In Conclusion

Elder abuse is a serious crime that’s under-reported. It’s often done by people close to or those giving care to the senior and can have lasting effects no matter its form. To prevent abuse, you’ll need to prepare ahead of time with a supportive team behind the elder. If you suspect any form of abuse, it’s best to make the call to APS or your local ombudsman.

Together, we can help fight against elder abuse and work towards a kinder future for people from all walks of life.

References:

·       https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/elder-abuse/spotting-signs-elder-abuse

·       https://ncea.acl.gov/suspectabuse#gsc.tab=0

·       https://ncea.acl.gov/elder-abuse#gsc.tab=0

·       https://eldermistreatment.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NCEA_APSreport_factsheet.pdf

·       https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/state-long-term-care-ombudsman.aspx