Identify Cases of Elderly Abuse Infographic
Abusive cases can happen to anyone regardless of age, including the elderly.
The elderly can be the victim of abusive cases as they seem less powerful.
If you notice an attitude or condition change in the elderly around you, something might have happened to them.
This article aims to help you identify cases of elderly abuse, so you can help others and take immediate action.
Also, we provide an infographic relating to elderly abuse at the end of this article.
Types of Elder Abuse
There are six types of abusive behavior towards the elderly. Each of them can affect the victims differently.
#1. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse includes behavior toward old adults which results in bodily harm, injury, unnecessary pain, or mental distress.
How to identify:
- Bruises, welts, or scars on the elderly’s body
- Broken bones, sprains, or dislocations
- Broken eyeglasses or frames
- Report of drug overdose or failure to take medication regularly
- Signs of being restrained
- A caregiver’s attitude prevents you from seeing the elder alone
#2. Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse includes any form of sexual contact that results from threats or force, such as assault, rape, and sexual harassment
How to identify:
- Bruises around breasts or genitals
- Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
- Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
- Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections
#3. Physiological or Emotional Abuse
This type of abuse includes threats or actions to provoke the fear of violence that can result in mental anguish, anxiety, or depression.
How to identify:
- Behavior from the elder mimics dementia, such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling to oneself.
- Caregiver behavior that shows an act of threatening, belittling, or controlling
#4. Financial or Material Abuse
Material abuse includes financial exploitation through illegal or unethical use of their money, property, or other assets for personal gain.
How to identify:
- Unnecessary withdrawals from the elder’s accounts
- Changes in the elder’s financial condition
- Items, cash, or assets missing from the elder’s household
- Change of name to the elder’s signature card
- Unnecessary services, goods, or subscriptions
#5. Healthcare Fraud
This fraud includes not providing healthcare to the elderly but still charging them.
How to identify:
- Double billings for the same medical service or device
- Evidence of inadequate care when they pay the bill in full
- Evidence of over-medications or under-medication
- Problem with the care facility
#6. Neglect
Neglect can be active or passive on the part of the caregiver.
Active neglect means the willful deprivation of goods or services necessary to maintain the physical or mental health of the older person.
Passive neglect means failing to recognize the elder’s needs and not providing necessary goods or services to them
How to identify:
- Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration
- Untreated physical problems
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Desertion of the elder in a public area
- Unsuitable clothing or covering for the weather
- Unsafe living conditions
Takeaway
Whether the elderly are a family to you or not, helping them overcome problems is always goodwill.
Especially taking care of the seniors in our family is necessary to maintain their happiness and provide a good life after a long journey.
See the infographic below to learn more about elderly abuse.
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