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ELDER ABUSE

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 person.  Harmful actions by strangers are usually not considered in elder abuse.

The exact number of elder abuse cases is unknown.  One estimate for the United States place 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?

Although elders who have mental or physical disabilities are at the greatest risk, elder abuse can happen to anyone.  More women than men live to be elders, but both sexes are equally at risk for abuse.  Some older adults are abused by their spouses or by their 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 two categories of elder abuse:

1. Domestic Elder Abuse: maltreatment of an older person by someone who has a special relationship with the elder (spouse, sibling, child, friend, caregiver)

2. Institutional Elder Abuse: maltreatment of an older person that occurs in residential facilities for older persons (nursing homes, group homes, board and care facilities)

There are six types of elder abuse:

1. Financial or Material Exploitation: the illegal or improper use of an elderly person's funds, property, or assets

   • Withholding money

   • Cashing an elderly person’s check without authorization

   • Forcing an elderly person to sell personal property

   • Misusing Power of Attorney

2. Emotional/Psychological: the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or non-verbal acts

   • Humiliating, insulting, name calling or threatening

   • Treating an elderly person like a Child

3. Neglect: the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person's obligation or duties to an elderly person; failure to provide necessary care

   • Withholding food or medical attention

   • Leaving a senior in an unsafe or isolated place

4. Physical: use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain or impairment

   • Hitting or pushing

   • Forced confinement in a room, bed or chair

   • Overmedication

5. Sexual: nonconsensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person

   • Sexual molestation

   • Unwanted touching

   • Rape

6. Self Neglect: behavior of an elderly person that threatens their own health or safety

   • Refusal to provide themselves with adequate food, water, clothing or shelter

   • Refusal to take medication

As well as being abusive, many of these actions are also crimes.

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What Is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of controlling behavior that may include physical, sexual, economic, emotional, and psychological abuse of one family member or intimate partner by another. The goal of domestic violence is to establish and maintain power and control.