Elderly people are a population commonly at risk for being abused. A common reasoning for this lies in the perception that older individuals are physically and mentally weak. The abuse generally can occur in their own homes or in nursing care facilities, and can be perpetrated by family, friends, caregivers or strangers. There are many types of elder abuse--all of which should be reported to law enforcement.
Physical
Physical abuse is any rough or violently forceful act perpetrated on the elderly person. This includes hitting, pushing, tripping, pinching or kicking, as well as improper restraining or confining. Physical abuse can often be evidenced by broken bones, sprains, bruises or other marks on the body.
Verbal
Verbal abuse is committed when an elderly patient is verbally threatened, intimidated, ridiculed, mocked or used as a scapegoat. Shouting or using an angry tone with the senior is also a form of this type of abuse. Giving a senior the silent treatment by refusing to engage or answer him verbally is also abusive.
Sexual
Any non-consensual sexual contact with a senior is classified as sexual abuse. This includes inappropriate touching of the intimate areas such as the breasts and genitals, rape, sexual assault with objects, forced oral or anal contact, coerced nakedness and photographing a senior in sexually explicit poses or while engaged in intimate activities.
Neglect
Neglect is the form of abuse that occurs when a caregiver doesn't meet the physical and emotional needs of the elderly patient. Examples of neglect are failure to feed, clean, give medication and interact with the senior. A caregiver can also neglect to provide the senior with clean clothes, regulate the temperature of the person's environment to a comfortable level or fail to help the senior change positions (which can cause the development of bedsores). The neglect can be mild or severe.
Abandonment
One of the most devastating forms of elder abuse is abandonment. This occurs when a caregiver leaves the elderly person to fend for herself for a time that may or may not be indefinite. This abuse is particularly devastating for bedridden individuals. The threat of abandonment is also classified as abuse, as it causes fear in the older adult.
Financial Exploitation
When a senior's monies or properties are taken or used without consent, financial exploitation has occurred. This form of abuse is also committed when someone "cons" an elderly individual out of his money or property. Unfortunately, financial scam artists often target the elderly. Family or friends can also misuse a senior person's financial assets. Examples of this are forging an elder person's name on checks, using a credit card without permission or under false pretenses or stealing valuables from him.
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