What Is Elderly Abuse?

Elder abuse is putting an older person at risk or harm through unwanted physical or sexual contact, neglecting him or misusing his funds or property. According to HealthInAging.org, 700,000 to 1.2 million elderly people (that is, 4 percent of all adults older than 65) are subjected to elder mistreatment in the United States and that there are 450,000 new cases annually. Most elder abuse cases take place in the elderly person's own home, where she is abused by a spouse, child, sibling or paid caregiver.

Reasons

• There are no specific reasons why elder abuse occurs. When an elderly person becomes dependent on others, family issues, cultural issues and caregiver problems can lead to abuse. The caregiver may be incapable of dealing with the day-to-day health and mental needs of the elderly person. He may become resentful and take his anger out on his loved one.

Physical Abuse

• Physical abuse can come in the form of bruising around the neck and arms, repeated unexplained injuries that the elderly person refuses to talk about and the refusal of emergency care when needed. The elderly person may show signs of neglect, which include weight loss, bed sores, extreme thirst and a rapid deterioration in health.

Sexual Abuse

• Sexual abuse can have a variety of sign, which may include unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding, bloody underwear and bruises on the breast. An in-depth physical exam may determine that the elderly person has contracted a venereal disease. The elderly person may lack interest in social contact, be unresponsive or uncommunicative, or be withdrawn, especially in close proximity to the abuser.

Financial Abuse

• The elderly person may not be mentally capable of taking care of her own finances. An entrusted caregiver may misuse the elderly person funds by withdrawing money and writing checks against the elderly person's account, causing her lifestyle to decline.

Prevention/Solution

• You can help prevent elderly abuse by raising awareness, educating people about it and promoting social contact along with a support system for families with dependent older adults. This can include counseling and treatment for families with domestic issues. Sometimes, it helps to move the elderly person to a different location to receive respite care, a place where an impartial party can attend to his physical and mental needs.

Reporting

• No one deserves to be abused, no matter who they are. When reporting a case of elder abuse, don't worry about interfering in other people's affairs. If you suspect elder abuse, contact your personal physician or the elderly person's physician. The doctor has an obligation to report to the authorities any case of suspected abuse. The physician will most likely contact Adult Protective Services for your state and/or call all appropriate authorities or agencies.