Introduction Homicide Robbery Identity Theft Hate Crimes Elderly Child Burglary Assault

• What is Elder Abuse?
  
• Elder Victimization
  
• Identifying Abuse, Neglect, And Exploitation
  
• Preventing Elder Abuse
  

It is the mistreatment or neglect of an elderly person, usually by a relative or other caregiver. Elder abuse may include:

• physical violence
  
• threats of assault
  
• verbal abuse
  
• financial exploitation
  
• emotional abuse
  
• neglect
  
• violation of an elderly person's rights
  

WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF ELDERLY ABUSE?

The typical victim lives with a family member and depends on the relative for daily care.

WHO ARE THE ABUSERS?

Usually they're family members who are acting as caregivers. Likely abusers may suffer from:

• stress
  
• alcohol and drug problems
  
• emotional problems
  
• dependency
  

HOW ARE THE ELDERS ABUSED?

• physical abuse: kicked, punched or slapped
  
• financial exploitation: steal or mismanage money, forced to sign a will
  
• rights violation: behavior may be strictly controlled
  
• neglect: such as failure to provide medication, food or personal care
  
• psychological abuse: elderly purposely isolated or denied companionship
  
• other: unsanitary conditions, poorly heated rooms or over-medicating
  

WHY DOES ELDER ABUSE HAPPEN?

• resentment
  
• longer life spans
  
• retaliation
  
• attitudes toward violence
  
• lack of services
  
• life crisis
  
• lack of love and friendship
  
• no money
  
• social problems
  

WHY DOES THE PROBLEM CONTINUE?

• denial
  
• physical/mental illness
  
• lack of services
  
• fear and shame
  
• lack of involvement
  
• lack of protection
  
• dependence
  
• lack of awareness
  
• isolation
  

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THE ELDER ABUSE?

• more research
  
• more education
  
• more resources
  
• new legislation
   
• greater public awareness
  

•  In 2008, 627 people age 65 or older were murdered in the US. 1

• In 2007, 91,590 persons over the age of 65 were victims of violent crime. 2
• In 2007, 61% of personal crimes against victims age 65 or older were reported to the police, the highest reporting rate of any age group. 3
• Crime victims age 65 or older lost a total of $1.3 billion due to personal and property crimes in 2007. 4
• Of those who reported crimes to the Federal Trade Commission in 2008, people ages 60 and over made up 8% of fraud victims and 12% of identity theft victims. 5
• In 2008, the average loss per Internet fraud complaint was $1,000 for people age 60 or older. 6
• The most recent survey of adult protective services found that 191,908 reports of elder abuse and neglect of people age 60 or older were substantiated in 2004. 7
• Of those reports, 20% involved caregiver neglect; 15% involved emotional, psychological, or verbal abuse; 15% involved financial exploitation; 11% involved physical abuse; and 1% involved sexual abuse. 8
• In 2004, more than half of alleged perpetrators of elder abuse were women. 9
• In 2004, domestic settings were the most common locations of abuse in substantiated reports. 10
• Of the alleged perpetrators of elder abuse in 2004, 33% were adult children; 22% were other family members; 16% had an unknown relationship to the victim; and 11% were spouses or intimate partners.11
• The largest segment of alleged perpetrators of elder abuse in 2004 were between 30 and 50 years of age. 12
• In 2004, more than 65% of elder maltreatment victims reported to adult protective services. were women. 13
• In 2004, African Americans constituted 21% of reported elder maltreatment victims, despite representing 8% of all Americans age 65 and older. 14
• People age 65 or older are equally as likely to face an offender with a weapon as younger people. 15
  
  

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

 

Signs of Physical Abuse
 

• rope burns
   
• bruises
   
• especially on upper arms or clustered on trunk of body
   
• combination of what appear to be old and new bruises
   
• illnesses which seem chronic, long-term and untreated
   
• abrasions or lacerations
   
• burns
   
• fractures
   
• sagging skin or skin deterioration
   
• any injury that is not compatible with the story given
   
• an injury not properly cared for
   
• unkempt appearance (uncombed hair, unshaven face)
   
• poor hygiene (dirty skin, untrimmed nails)
   
• evidence of dehydration/malnutrition
   
• ravenous eating habits of elder
   
• evidence that elder is confined unwillingly to bed/chair/room without freedom of movement (restraints at wrists and ankles, muscle contracture)
   

Self-Neglect
 

• complaints from area merchants/neighbors who report loitering or wandering
   
• no food in house or lots of food in house which is spoiled
   
• prescription medication not taken
   
• evidence of alcohol or drug abuse
   

Psychological Abuse
 

• expressions of fear, anger or resignation
   
• elder embarrassed or fearful when asked about injury
   
• family member afraid to leave you alone with her
   
• family member acting as if elder did things on purpose, i.e.:
  
  • he/she refuses to walk
     
  • he/she is incontinent on purpose
     
  • he/she falls to get attention
    
     

Material/Financial Neglect
 

• elder's rent is overdue on more than one occasion; utility and other bills have not been paid
   
• noticeable discrepancy between what is known about the elder's financial status and how they now appear
   
• discrepancy between resources available to elder, how he/she is cared for
   
• condition of home
   
• level of personal care, nutrition, medical care, clothing, transportation, opportunities for social interaction
  
   

Violation of Rights
 

• unreasonable confinement to a bed, chair, room or other part of the house
   
• possibility that elder is denied visitors or freedom to go out of the house, to visit friends or to go to church
   
• elder has no awareness of his/her financial affairs or what is being done with money or property
  
   

"The time to think about prevention is not when the caregiver's ability begins to be inadequate; this may be too late."
 

1. Be aware of the prevalence of the problem, and the factors contributing to it. Make family friends and/or attorney aware of your concerns.
    
2. Plan ahead. Ensure family members or other caregivers have the physical, emotional and financial resources to provide adequate care. Anticipate situations in which mistreatment may occur.
    
3. Have at least one plan for alternate care in the event that the first plan does not work out.
    
4. Remain sociable as you age; participate in community activities as much as possible and maintain or increase your network of friends.
    
5. Develop a "buddy system" with a friend or friends outside your home to check up on each other and provide mutual reassurance.
    
6. Keep regularly scheduled medical, dental and social appointments. These professionals can be helpful and in special cases, can be used to attest to your level of competency.
    
7. Ask friends and relatives to regularly visit you where you live. Even brief visits will allow friends to check on your environment, well-being and attitude.
    
8. Have your own telephone and post box, and make sure you open your own mail. If you suspect mail is being intercepted, contact postal authorities.
    
9. Make others aware that you are keeping track of your affairs and that you know where everything is supposed to be.
    
10. Let others know that you expect your personal records, accounts and property to be available for examination, either by you, or someone you trust.
     

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