According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, hundreds of thousands of older Americans are the victims of elder abuse each year. This abuse can inflict physical, emotional and even financial harm on senior citizens — and it is often caused by people who are entrusted with the senior's care, such as family members and health care institutions.
Types of Elder Abuse
There are several types of elder abuse, including:
- Physical abuse — including hitting, shoving or slapping
- Sexual abuse — including unwanted fondling or intercourse and forcing someone to watch pornographic material
- Emotional abuse — including intimidation, threats and ridicule
- Financial abuse — including stealing money, checks, credit cards and valuable items
Elder abuse does not only include the overt actions of a caregiver, but can also encompass a failure to act: When a senior citizen is abandoned or neglected — by being denied health care, food or shelter — that is also a form of elder abuse.
Institutional Elder Abuse
Although a lot of elder abuse is perpetrated by family members at home, seniors can also be victims of abuse committed against them by institutions. Like with abuse that occurs at home, nursing home and assisted living abuse can manifest itself physically, emotionally, sexually or financially. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), patients that suffer from physical and cognitive health challenges, as well as those who do not receive many visits from friends and family, are particularly vulnerable to abuse in these facilities.
There are several signs of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect that can be observed when a patient at a nursing home is the victim of elder abuse, including:
- Bruises, broken bones, scars and welts
- Genital infections or venereal diseases
- Bedsores
- Unusual weight loss
- Unusual changes in the elder's financial situation
- Withdrawn behavior
In some cases, nursing homes may also commit fraud that involves their patients. This type of financial elder abuse can include duplicate billing to the patient's insurance company, overmedicating the patient and being billed for care that the patient did not receive.
What to Do if You Suspect Elder Abuse
If you believe an elderly loved one is being abused, you can report the mistreatment to your local Adult Protective Services agency or call 911 in an emergency. Then, contact an attorney experienced in elder abuse law. There may be legal remedies available for your loved one.
