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About Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is when older people are abused, neglected, and taken advantage of. Many victims are people who are older and frail and depend on others to meet their needs. Family members of the victim are responsible for most cases of elder abuse. Elder abuse can include:

physical, sexual, and psychological abuse

using the money or other resources of an older person, without his or her consent, for someone else's benefit

neglect

Abuse does not have to be a part of growing older. You can take steps to protect yourself. Choose someone you trust to help you make important decisions about your health care, living arrangements, and finances. Try to stay involved in matters that directly affect you. Learn about the signs of elder abuse, so you can help protect the elderly people in your life.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse, seek help from other family members and friends or community organizations. Reach out for support or counseling. Talk to a health care provider, especially if you have been physically hurt.

Signs of Elder Abuse

Unfortunately, as the numbers of elderly people grow in our country, so do the cases of elder abuse. Elderly people can be abused in their homes, in the home of a caregiver, or in an institution like a nursing home. If the elderly person you love, live with, or take care of has any of these signs of abuse, it's time to get them help.

Type of Elder Abuse

Signs

Physical abuse - hitting, slapping, beating, pushing, shoving, kicking, pinching, and burning.

Bruises, black eyes.
Marks on body like welts, cuts, and open wounds.
Sprains, dislocations (like a shoulder), or broken bones.
Injuries that are healing but were never treated.
Rope marks or burns on hands and feet (could mean an elder has been tied up or restrained).
Broken eyeglasses or frames.
Sudden change in behavior.
Not wanting to be alone with caregiver.
Caregiver not letting anyone visit the elder alone.
Running out of prescription medicine too quickly or having prescription medicine that looks like it is not being taken like it should be (bottle too full).
The elder tells you he or she is being physically hurt.

Emotional or psychological abuse - verbal assaults, threats, intimidation, harassment, isolating elder from regular activities, family, and friends.

Being in an upset or agitated state.
Becoming withdrawn and not wanting to talk or interact with anyone.
Unusual behavior like rocking, biting, or sucking (usually thought to be symptoms of dementia).
The elder person tells you he or she is being mistreated.

Sexual assault and abuse - any sexual contact that is not agreed to by the elder like unwanted touching and all types of sexual assault.

Bruises on or around the breasts or genitals.
Unexplained sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) or vaginal or anal bleeding.
Torn, stained, or bloody underwear.
The elder person tells you he or she is sexually assaulted or raped.

Neglect - not taking proper care of an elder, including physical care (food, clothing, shelter, medicine, personal hygiene) and financial care (not paying for living arrangements, care, and other bills).

Poor hygiene, dehydration, malnutrition, bed sores that aren't being treated (if bedridden).
Health problems that aren't being treated.
Unsafe living conditions (no heat, electricity or water, faulty wiring).
Poor living conditions (dirt, fleas, soiled bedding, clothes and bedding smelling like urine/feces, improper clothing, lice on the elder).
The elder person tells you he or she is being neglected.

Get Help

Protect your loved ones from abuse. Make sure they get the care and services they need. Every case of elder abuse should be reported to the local authority in your area. Reporting procedures differ in each state, but a good place to start is by looking in your area phone book for numbers of an agency or department on aging.

Many states have 24-hour toll-free numbers for receiving confidential reports of abuse. You can get more information on elder abuse from the National Center on Elder Abuse.

If you suspect elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call the National Center on Elder Abuse hotline at 1-800-677-1116.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or the local police for immediate help.

Additional Resources

Publications

Age Page: Crime and Older People — This fact sheet discusses fraud, identity theft, and elder abuse and explains what you can do to protect yourself from these crimes.

http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/crime.asp

Domestic Violence: Older Women Can Be Victims Too — This fact sheet lists some of the warning signs of domestic abuse that occurs later in life.

http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/NCEAroot/Main_Site/pdf/publication/OLDERWOMEN2-COLUMNFINAL10-11-05.pdf...

Elder Abuse Prevention — This publication gives information on the prevalence of elder abuse, what types of abuse are common, and what the Administration on Aging is doing to combat this problem.

http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/Elder_Rights/Elder_Abuse/Elder_Abuse.aspx

Older Americans Act — Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection has proven instrumental in promoting public education and interagency coordination to address elder abuse. This site discusses the act and ways to learn about older american rights.

http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/NCEAroot/Main_Site/Library/Laws/Older_Americans_Act.aspx

Elder Abuse and Neglect: In Search of Solutions (Copyright © American Psychological Association) — This online publication provides information on the signs of elder abuse. It explains why elder abuse may occur, ways to prevent it, and what to do if elder abuse is suspected. A list of resources is also provided at the end of the publication.

http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html

http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/NCEAroot/Main_Site/Find_Help/Help_Hotline.aspx

Elder Mistreatment (Copyright © AGS) — Elder mistreatment means that someone either does something or fails to do something that harms an elderly person or threatens the health and welfare of an elderly person. This fact sheet discusses forms of elder abuse and where to go for help.

http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=9

http://www.preventelderabuse.org/help/help.html

Major Types of Elder Abuse (Copyright © NCEA) — This publication provides information on the many different types of elder abuse, which can include: physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial or material exploitation. It also contains information on elderly "self-neglect" as a form of abuse.

http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/NCEAroot/Main_Site/FAQ/Basics/Types_Of_Abuse.aspx

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated January 15, 2009.