Abuse of Older Adults

Every year millions of older adults are abused or neglected. This mistreatment can be physical or mental or it may involve money. It can happen no matter:

• The person's race or ethnic group.
• How much money he or she has.
• Whether the person is healthy or frail.
• Whether the person is a man or a woman.

Abuse can happen anywhere:

• In the person's own home.
• In someone else's home.
• In a hospital or nursing facility.

The abuse may be done on purpose or by mistake by anyone caring for the older adult. It could be:

• A family member or friend.
• A paid caregiver.
• Anyone.

Older adults often do not report abuse. They may:

• Be ashamed of what is happening.
• Want to protect the abuser if that person is a spouse, child, or grandchild.
• Be afraid the abuser will get back at them.
• Be afraid of being put in a nursing facility.
• Worry that no one will believe them.

Sometimes abuse is not reported because doctors, nurses, and social workers do not know what to look for or because older adults may have no contact with people who might report it.

What is abuse of older adults?

Abuse is anything someone does or does not do that ends up harming someone else's health and well-being. There are many kinds of abuse. More than one kind of abuse can happen at the same time.

Physical abuse is anything someone does to cause pain, injury, or disease. Among other things, an older adult could be:

• Burned.
• Shaken.
• Beaten.
• Attacked sexually.
• Tied to a bed or wheelchair.
• Given too much or too little medicine.

Physical neglect is the type of abuse that happens most often. Neglect is when the caregiver does not give the person the things needed for his or her health. This may happen when the caregiver does not know what the person needs. The older adult may not:

• Get enough food or water.
• Be allowed to wear hearing aids, eyeglasses, or dentures.
• Get needed medicine or care.

Emotional abuse causes stress or emotional harm to the person. This can include:

• Insults or threats.
• Ignoring the person.
• Treating him or her like a child.

Financial abuse is misusing the older adult's money and property. The abuser may:

• Spend money without the older adult's knowledge or consent.
• Sell his or her property or other things.
• Steal money, food stamps, or checks.
• Misuse assets.

Violating personal rights happens when older adults are not allowed to make their own decisions even though they are able to do so. This includes things like:

• Not respecting their privacy.
• Not letting them vote or worship.
• Opening or looking at their mail, or not letting them read it.

Why do people abuse older adults?

There are many reasons why abuse happens.

Stress. The caregiver may:

• Be tired, angry, or frustrated.
• Have money worries.
• Not be able to deal with his or her own feelings.

Drugs. The abuser may use drugs or alcohol. He or she may be mentally ill.

Resentment. The abuser may have to depend on the older person for housing, money, or child care.

Past abuse. Abuse may happen as part of a cycle of family violence. The abuser may have been hurt in childhood by the older person or by someone else.

How do you know when abuse is happening?

Everyone needs to help stop this kind of abuse.

Doctors or nurses may find signs of physical abuse, like:

• Bruises.
• Broken bones.
• Burns.
• Marks on wrists or ankles.
• Too much or too little medicine.
• Unexplained weight loss or dehydration.

Signs of mental stress may include:

• Unusual weight gain or loss.
• Crying.
• Not being able to sleep.
• Tearfulness.
• Being nervous.
• Being uneasy or afraid around the caregiver.
• Agitation and difficult behaviors.

Neighbors may report hearing:

• Screaming.
• Crying.
• Fighting.

Friends and family members may notice:

• Dental neglect.
• Poor hygiene.
• Bald spots from pulling out hair.
• The signs of abuse noted above.

If you think abuse could be going on, it is important to get help right away. Things could get a lot worse if the abuse is not reported. It is better to be wrong than to have someone continue to suffer.

IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED OR THINK THAT MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE IS BEING ABUSED, CALL 1-800-677-1116 RIGHT AWAY. The National Eldercare Locator hotline can help you find the right agency to report the situation.

You can also make a report to Adult Protective Services. Look in the community services pages of your telephone book for a number. You may also be able to get the number from the United Way, from Child Protective Services, or from a hospital or police department. You can make a difference and help stop the suffering of a neglected or abused older adult.