Overview
As aging friends and relatives become increasingly frail and unable to defend themselves, the chance of abuse increases. According to the nonprofit Help Guide.com, more than 500,000 reports of elder abuse are received in the United States annually, with many more unreported cases suspected. People can be abused in their homes or in facilities that are supposed to be taking care of the elderly.
Step 1
Learn to recognize the signs of elder abuse. Many older people are too embarrassed to report any problems they've encountered or don't know how to talk about the instances of abuse. Watch for heightened tension or arguments between the elderly person and the caregiver you suspect.
Step 2
Watch for unexplained bruises or broken bones on the elderly person whom you are concerned about. Check for broken eyeglasses or marks on the wrists indicating restraints have been applied. Look for bedsores or signs of malnutrition, dirty clothing or soiled bed linens.
Step 3
Make sure any caregivers you hire are trained and certified. The risk of burnout is high among geriatric caregivers, who may become overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to care for an aging person in poor health.
Step 4
Report any suspicions you have about elder abuse to the proper authorities. If you don't know whom you should call in your state, call Eldercare Locator, a program that provides referrals to local elder abuse authorities, at 1-800-677-1116 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. (See website link below.)
Step 5
Avoid becoming isolated from family and friends if you are a senior citizen who is receiving outside assistance. You may need to tell someone if you ever receive poor treatment or are being physically, emotionally or financially abused. Make sure all of your finances are in order and secure from theft.
Tips and Warnings
- Hire an agency or request help from neighbors and relatives if you are the primary caregiver for a senior citizen and you feel overwhelmed by the responsibility.
- If the caregiver will not let you be alone with the elderly person, that may be a sign of abuse. Tell your friend or relative to let you know if she has any problems with the caregiver, whether it be abuse or neglect.
