Types of Abuse:
Physical abuse – This involves the beating of the elderly.
Neglect – This occurs when an elderly person is not receiving the basic day-to-day care that they need.
Psychological – This may involve the threat of violence, isolation, or deprivation of basic freedoms of choice and happiness
Financial –
Many times the elderly turn their personal finances over to a family caregiver
with the hope of avoiding probate court. Crimes committed are: theft, mismanagement
of money, or the sale of property without consent.
Possible
indicators of Physical Abuse
Cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds.
Bruises, welts, discoloration.
Any injury incompatible with history.
Any injury which has not been properly cared for (injuries are sometimes hidden on areas of the body normally covered by clothing).
Poor skin condition or poor skin hygiene.
Absence of hair and/or hemorrhaging below scalp.
Dehydration and/or malnourished without illness-related cause.
Loss of weight.
Burns: may be caused by cigarttes, caustics, acids, friction from ropes or chains, or contact with other objects.
Soiled clothing or bed
Why the elderly?
Elderly are more trusting
Elderly are polite toward strangers
It’s hard to know a sales call is legitimate
Telemarketers call when they are feeling lonely
The victims:
75% of victims are female.
80% of all victims have income under $10,000 a year.
Possible indicators of Financial Abuse
Unusual or inappropriate activity in bank accounts.
Signatures on checks, etc., that do not resemble the older person's signature, or signed when older person cannot write.
Power of attorney given, or recent changes or creation of will, when the person is incapable of making such decisions.
Unusual concern by caregiver that an excessive amount of money is being expended on the care of the older person.
Numerous unpaid bills, overdue rent, when someone is supposed to be paying the bills for a dependent elder.
Placement in nursing home or residential care facility which is not commensurate with alleged size of estate.
Lack of amenities, such as TV, personal grooming items, appropriate clothing, that the estate can well afford.
Missing personal belongings such as art, silverware, or jewelry.
Deliberate isolation, by a housekeeper, of an older adult from friends and family, resulting in the caregiver alone having total control.
The average age of abused elders is 75.
The abusers:
The family is the single greatest source of elder abuse.
In more than half the cases, the abuser is a child of the victim.
Over 2/3 are middle aged or older.
Most live with the victim.
Most neglect is committed by female family members.
Most physical abuse is committed by male family members
The causes:
Inability to deal with stress
Financial burdens
Unemployment
Job dissatisfaction
Rising cost of medical care
Demands on caregiver’s
time
Rise in family violence
Telemarketers seem to have all the answers
Telemarketers offer free prizes and gifts
75% of victims are female
80% of all victims have income under $10,000 a year
The average age of abused elders is 75
The abusers:
The family is the single greatest source of elder abuse.
In more than half the cases, the abuser is a child of the victim.
Over 2/3 are middle aged or older.
Most live with the victim
Most neglect is committed by female family members
Most physical abuse is committed by male family members
The causes:
Inability to deal with stress
Financial burdens
Unemployment
Job dissatisfaction
Rising cost of medical care
Demands on caregiver’s time
Rise in family violence
