As elders become more physically weak, they are not able to stand up for themselves if they are being bullied or attacked. Their incapability of not seeing or hearing as well as thinking as they used to before leads to senior abuse.
Many seniors around the world are being harmed in some way and these abuses are often done by people who take care of them.
Different Types of Senior Abuse
Physical Abuse. Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force against an elderly person that leads to bodily injury, functional impairment, physical pain, and distress. Physical abuse may include, but is not limited to hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, stomping, kicking, slapping,scratching, biting and pinching.
Sexual Abuse. Sexual abuse is a contact with an elderly person without the elder’s consent. Such things to look out for may include but is not limited to physical sex acts or attempted contact. Forcing the person to watch sex acts or forcing the elder to undress are also considered as elder abuse.
Emotional Abuse or Psychological Abuse. This causes emotional pain, distress or anguish. Psychological and emotional abuse occurs when elderly are treated in a harsh way like humiliating the elder, blaming an elder and yelling or threatening the elder.
Neglect. This refers to a caregiver’s failure to perform his/her duties to provide the care needed by the elderly like preparing food, maintaining personal hygiene, safety, and giving comfort. This applies to individuals or even nursing homes. Neglect can be either passive or active which means that the caregiver either intentionally refuse to provide care or is not capable of fulfilling his/her tasks.
Fraud. Fraud for senior abuse is the misuse of en elderly’s resources like personal checks, cards, and bank accounts. Stealing of cash and household goods as well as forging an elder’s signature is also considered as fraud.
Self-Neglect. This occurs when an elderly person threatens his own condition like his health and safety because of the fact that he cannot provide himself with adequate hygiene, water, food, medications, shelter and the like.
Signs of an Elder Abuse
Physical Abuse.
- Poor hygiene
- Being malnourished when it is not due directly to an illness
- Unexplained injury
- Welts
- Bruises, cuts, sores
Sexual Abuse.
- Unexplained sexually transmitted disease (STD)
- Having internal injuries
- Being anxious when near
- Bleeding around genitals, chest, mouth
- Having a bloody underclothing
- Bruises, bite marks, pain or irritation of the genitals
Emotional Abuse.
- The elder fails to participate in such activities
- Nervousness
- Avoidance of eye contact
- Having a fearful behavior in the presence of other people
Neglect.
- Elderly lacks basic hygiene
- Missing medical aids like eyeglasses, dentures, medications
- The elderly’s environment is dirty
- The elderly is being left in bed over a period of time
- The elderly may have bed sores
Fraud.
- The lack of amenities in an elderly’s home which they can clearly afford
- The elderly seems to provide excessive monetary reimbursement in exchange for care
- The inability of an elderly person to understand the meaning of financial transactions
- The caregiver has control over the elderly person’s financial accounts