The Many Forms Of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can take many forms. Such abuse happens when someone inflicts physical, psychological or emotional harm on an older person. It can also happen when a caregiver financially exploits and/or intentionally or unintentionally neglects the person for whom they are supposed to be caring.

Physical Abuse

If someone uses enough physical force to injure someone else or to cause them pain, even if they are trying to help that person, that behavior is considered to be abusive. Physical abuse can run the gamut from shoving and slapping to severely beating someone and restraining them with chains, ropes or belts.

Physical abuse takes other forms, as well. It can include biting, hitting, kicking, beating, burning, and/or pushing. Physical abuse can also take the form of either under-medicating or over-medicating the older person. Exposing the elderly to severe weather conditions and depriving them of food are additional types of physical abuse.

Sexual abuse is another form of abuse. It can range from exhibitionism to rape.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Psychological and emotional abuse ranges from giving someone the silent treatment to name calling, threatening, insulting and/or intimidating another person.

If a caregiver, family member or another person causes distress, emotional pain, mental anguish or fear, their behavior is considered abusive.

If an elderly person is treated like a child or isolated from their friends, family, and normal activities by manipulation, threats or force then they are being psychologically and emotionally abused.

Neglect

Neglectful caregivers are prone to intentionally withholding the appropriate amount of attention that they should give to the people for whom they are caring. For example, a caregiver could neglect an elderly person by intentionally failing to take care of their physical, emotional or social needs.

Neglect also includes failing to provide clothing, water, food, medication, proper personal hygiene, and the necessary assistance for participating in the activities associated with daily living.

Financial Neglect

If one of the caregiver's responsibilities is to pay the bills for their elderly patients and they fail to do that - or if they fail to responsibly manage the money - then they are being financially neglectful.

Financial exploitation ranges from misusing an elderly person's funds to outright embezzlement. It includes forgery, taking money under false pretenses, fraud, forcing property transfers, denying the elderly access to his or her funds and home, and buying expensive things with the elderly person's money - without permission.

It can also include a number of scams that are perpetuated by unscrupulous salespeople who work for mortgage companies, financial service companies, and health-related companies.