What To Do If You Suspect Elder Abuse
According to the National Institute on Aging, hundreds of thousands of seniors 60 and older experience some form of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation each year. In our opinion, that’s hundreds and thousands too many, and the only way to stop abuse and help those living through abuse is to understand the signs and what to do if you suspect something is happening.
What Is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse is any sort of abuse that happens to an older adult. Abuse can come from spouses, family, friends, caregivers, or self-abuse. There are many forms of elder abuse, each with specific signs and repercussions.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is any physical trauma to another person, regardless of whether it leaves marks or not. Types of physical abuse can include hitting, kicking, biting, scratching, or throwing objects. Even threats of physical violence can be considered physical abuse because it makes an environment unsafe for another individual.
Signs of physical abuse are often pretty easy to recognize, such as bruises, broken bones, swelling, or other wounds. Additional signs may include behavioral changes or an older adult saying they are scared or uncomfortable with certain people. In some cases, if the individual has a caretaker or spouse who refuses to let others see the individual, that could also be a sign that something isn’t right.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse is when someone inflicts psychological trauma on another person. Psychological trauma can present itself as depression, anxiety, or stress among the recipients of the trauma.
Emotional abuse can be a bit more challenging to identify because there is no physical evidence of abuse as there is with physical abuse. However, a few warning signs of emotional or psychological abuse include being withdrawn, having emotional outbursts, exhibiting unusual behaviors, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, excessive apologizing, or signs of depression and anxiety.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual advances to an unconsenting senior. Sexual abuse can also include sexual harassment, making inappropriate remarks, or forcing someone to engage in nonphysical sexual activities, such as watching something inappropriate on tv.
Like emotional or psychological abuse, it can be challenging to identify sexual abuse, especially in older adults with cognitive decline who may not realize they’ve experienced abuse. Signs can be physical, such as bruising or bleeding in genital areas or unexplained venereal disease or infections. Additional signs could be changes in demeanor or signs of depression.
Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation is when an individual takes financial advantage of a senior without their consent or knowledge. Financial exploitation can include scams from strangers, such as phone calls or emails demanding funds.
Financial exploitation is one of the easier types of abuse to identify, especially if the abuser is taking electronic payments or checks that come from the seniors’ bank accounts. Signs to look out for include withdrawals from a bank account without the individual’s knowledge, unauthorized names or signatures on a senior’s financial statements, abrupt changes to wills or other financial documents, and unpaid bills.
Neglect
Neglect is when someone responsible for a senior intentionally doesn’t provide care. Neglect is most common among seniors who cannot care for themselves and depend on others to assist with basic tasks like housekeeping, grocery shopping, or mobility. Neglect can also include self-neglect. Some individuals don’t have others to care for them and don’t reach out for assistance.
Signs of neglect are often quite apparent and may include signs of dehydration or malnutrition, untreated wounds, or unsafe living conditions. Seniors may also be abandoned at hospitals after surgery or in public locations without the ability to get themselves home safely.
What To Do If You Suspect Abuse
If you suspect abuse, the two most important things to do are to stay calm and contact authorities. Even if you don’t have concrete evidence of abuse, but a senior in your life is claiming abuse, you want to take those allegations seriously and find your loved one help.
Remain Calm
Learning about the abuse of a loved one is a scary and overwhelming experience, but it’s important to remain calm. If you’re learning about abuse from a loved one, give them the time and space to share their story. Remain compassionate and empathetic to show your loved one you’re there to help them.
If you suspect abuse, but the senior in your life hasn’t shared anything with you, calmly ask if there’s anything they want to share. Express your concerns and create an open environment for your loved one to feel safe and supported if they’re comfortable talking about their abuse. If they’re not okay with opening up to you, tell them it's okay, but you are there to help them.
Contact Authorities
You should report elder abuse to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA). The NAPSA is a nonprofit that helps adults who fall victim to abuse or mistreatment. The organization can also provide further resources to help the seniors involved in the situation. In cases of self-abuse or self-neglect, you should also contact family or friends of the senior if possible.
The U.S. Department of Justice offers Virginia residents additional resources, such as counseling and legal services.
If you need immediate help for abuse, contact local police right away.
Work With Trusted Caregivers At Visiting Angels
We understand the importance of working with trusted home care agencies to provide compassionate and professional care to your loved ones. At Visiting Angels Prince William County, we guarantee our caregivers will remain kind, hard-working, and dedicated to the well-being of all clients.
Visiting Angels has provided quality in-home care to clients throughout Prince William County since 2004. We’ve earned recognition as one of the best providers and leaders in at-home care and continue to push and hold ourselves to the highest standards so clients and families feel confident in our care.
If you’re looking for at-home care from an agency you can trust, contact us today for a complimentary consultation.