Signs of Elder Abuse

According to the National Council on Aging, 1 in 10 persons aged 60+ experience elder abuse to some degree. One study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse gets reported. Of those who abuse elders, about 60% are actually family members - either the children or spouse of the abused. When considering care options for your loved one, it's important to educate yourself on the signs of abuse and what to do about it. 

Elder abuse happens to varying degrees. The majority of the time, the abuse isn't directly physical or emotional violence, but rather a form of neglect. This can make abuse harder to spot, especially if you don't know what to look for. 

Other forms of abuse include financial abuse, sexual abuse, and even healthcare fraud. 

​In most cases of abuse, the symptoms can overlap with the symptoms of dementia, leaving those with dementia and Alzheimer's at a high risk of both being abused and the abuse going unnoticed. What's more, the loneliness sometimes associated with the senior years may be a deterrent to the elder to report his/her abuser(s). 

Below are the different kinds of abuse and their signs/symptoms:

Physical Abuse

• Repeated Injuries
• Bruising, broken bones, and burns/scars
• Signs of restraint (marks around wrists/ankles)
• Broken eyeglasses
• Caretaker won't allow you to visit the elder unless he/she is present

Neglect

• Dehydration and weight loss
• Bed sores
• Soiled clothing/linens
• Unkempt appearance
• Unsafe living conditions
• Under-dressed for weather
• Desertion in public place/wandering

Sexual Abuse

• Torn/bloodied clothing
• Bruising around genitals/breasts
• Anal/genital pain or bleeding
• ​Extreme agitation
• New emergence of STD
• Sudden difficulty sitting or walking

Emotional Abuse

• Witnessing belittling behavior towards the elder adult
• Shows signs of agitation (rocking, thumb-sucking, pulling out hair)
• Sudden withdrawal from activities
• Elder makes self-demeaning comments
• Caretaker won't allow you to visit unless he/she is present

Financial Abuse

• Sudden change in financial situation
• Items/cash/checkbook missing
• Utilities turned off - Unpaid bills
• Sudden changes to will, power of attorney, titles, or insurance policies
• Caretaker lives lavishly while the elder lives in squalor 
• New "relationship" with young person

Healthcare Fraud

• Crowded living conditions
• Noticeably understaffed facility
• Under/Over medicated
• Duplicate/Erroneous billing
• Misleading/False advertising services

If you observe signs of abuse, it's important to act quickly. If the signs are mild and you're uncertain if abuse is actually occurring, the first step is to contact Adult Protective Services. They will perform a wellness check on the individual, allowing another set of eyes to observe, as well as being able to hone in on what your specific observations were. 

If the signs are glaringly apparent that there is abuse, do not hesitate to contact emergency personnel for immediate intervention. Regardless of how obvious or not the particular case of abuse may be, trust your gut and take action. 

If your loved one is in a nursing home, it's advisable to have information on another nursing home on hand in order to speed the transition from one location to another. You can also consider using a service like ACC Adult Home Care, where qualified and screened caregivers come to your home for 1 on 1 care, as opposed to placement in a facility. 

Remember, it's important to ensure that the care being provided to your loved one is by a service that cares. Inquiries with any care company should be lengthy, detailed, and should end in you feeling the utmost confidence in their service.