Elder Abuse

Types of Elder Abuse

Physical abuse

The abuser hurts or injures the person. This may involve physical coercion, confinement, slapping, bruising, sexual molesting, burning, restraining, and pushing.

Passive neglect

The caregiver unintentionally fails to provide proper care.

Active neglect

The caregiver intentionally does not take care of the elderly person. Abandoning the person or denying food, medicine, or personal hygiene may inflict physical and emotional stress or injury.

Psychological abuse

The caregiver may inflict mental anguish by name calling, insulting, ignoring, humiliating, frightening, threatening, isolating, or belittling the elderly person.

Financial abuse

The abuser may exploit the elderly person by using funds, property, or other assets for personal gain.

Some Facts about Abuse in Later Life

• Two-thirds of elder abuse and neglect victims are women.
• The median age of elder victims is 78 years.
• One-third of all elder victims are abused by their children.
• Neglect is the most common form of elder abuse in domestic settings accounting for over 50% of all reported incidents.