June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, making this month the perfect time to brush up on what elder abuse looks like and how it unfortunately might be more common than you think. If you are a senior or if you have a senior loved one in your life, here’s what you need to know about elder abuse.
Physical Abuse
When you hear the word abuse, you likely jump to picturing physical abuse, such as slapping, hitting, or kicking someone. It might seem like a stretch to consider anyone wanting to punch their senior loved one or slap their elderly neighbor, but physical abuse is somewhat common in the senior population.
Most physical abuse happens in the heat of the moment, typically during a time when the family caregiver or visitor is feeling frustrated. They may be too rough when helping their senior loved one put on their sweater, or they may squeeze their loved one’s leg too hard when they are trying to redirect their loved one’s attention.
Physical abuse is much more common when family caregivers are not taking care of themselves. Caregivers, especially when caring for family members, are dealing with a variety of emotions, including guilt, anger, and anxiety, which can quickly turn to aggression when not handled appropriately.
Physical abuse is most common among seniors living with dementia or those who cannot speak. Abusers believe they will get away with their behaviors because the senior cannot advocate for themselves.
Signs of physical abuse can include:
- Bruising of unknown origin
- Skin tears or cuts
- Burns
- Broken bones
Neglect
Another type of abuse that can easily fly under the radar is neglect. Neglect is not attending to the needs of an older adult who needs assistance. Examples of neglect might include letting a senior stay in bed too long and not helping them turn or get out of bed, not helping the older adult to the restroom, or isolating a senior in their room or a specific part of the home.
Neglect can also be attributed to a caregiver who is exhausted, burnt out, or living with emotions like guilt or anger.
Seniors especially susceptible to neglect include seniors who require assistance, whether that is physical assistance (like needing someone to help them to the bathroom or shower) or verbal assistance (like giving cues when it’s time to get up for the day or to direct them to their next activity), as well as seniors living with cognitive decline or who are nonverbal.
Signs of neglect might include:
- Pressure wounds (skin breakdown, pressure ulcers)
- Medications still in the pill box or not needing to be refilled
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition, including rapid weight loss or weight gain
- Unsafe conditions at home, such as cluttered hallways, dirty kitchen counters, etc.
Emotional Abuse
Perhaps the most under-reported type of elder abuse is emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is sometimes referred to as verbal abuse, and includes a caregiver yelling at or berating the older adult.
Emotional abuse might include verbal assaults and humiliating or degrading statements , such as telling a senior:
- You’re such a burden to me
- Why can’t you just do this yourself?
- Can’t you do anything right?
- No one wants to take care of you except for me
Emotional abuse doesn’t always start out with such bold statements, but it can become more and more aggressive as the caregiver copes with complex feelings and anger. The senior is less likely to report this type of abuse, as they may think they deserve it, or they might be fearful of the caregiver.
Emotional abuse can also include:
- Isolating the senior from friends and family
- Ignoring or neglecting the emotional needs of the older adult
- Threatening to stop taking care of them or to place them in a nursing home
Signs of emotional abuse might include:
- Isolating from favorite events, including time with family and friends
- Appearing afraid or nervous around specific people
- Crying or new and unusual depression
- Changes in sleep patterns, whether that is sleeping too much or not enough
- New onset of anxiety
- Strained or tense conversations with certain people
Financial Abuse
Finally, financial abuse is common among older adults and is often under-reported as the senior feels shame about it. Financial abuse includes withholding money, stealing money, misappropriating funds, forging signatures, or other acts that do not benefit the senior and instead benefit the abuser.
Financial abuse costs older adults millions of dollars each year across the country, and it can often occur without family members realizing it. Caregivers are not necessarily taking out thousands of dollars at a time, but instead are using money for their personal use in smaller increments that build up over months and years.
Signs of financial abuse can include:
- Unpaid bills or collection notices
- Changes in spending patterns
- Changes in Will or estate planning
- Fraudulent signatures on checks or other documents
- Unexplained asset transfers
- Missing valuable possessions
If you believe that a senior in your life is being abused, you can report it to Adult Protective Services. Look for the contact information in the state and/or city that the senior lives in. You’ll need to provide specific information about what you’re seeing or what you are concerned about, and they will look into it and follow-up in order to keep the senior safe and healthy.
