What Is Elder Abuse?
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Elder abuse takes many different forms: emotional, physical, financial and neglect.
The most common form of elder abuse, financial abuse, is defined as any improper conduct, done with or without the informed consent of the senior that results in a monetary or personal gain to the abuser and/or monetary or personal loss for the older adult.
In the experience of Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, most financial abuse is perpetrated by family members.
Elder Abuse – Financial Abuse of Seniors
Financial abuse indicators include:
How Do I Recognize Financial Abuse?
Banking/Legal
Living Status
Emotional and Psychological abuse is any action, verbal or non-verbal, that lessens a person’s sense of identity, dignity and self-worth.
Elder Abuse – Psychological Abuse of Seniors
How Do I Recognize Emotional Abuse?
Examples:
Signs of Psychological Abuse
Physical abuse is any act of violence or rough handling that may or may not result in physical injury but causes physical discomfort or pain.
Physical abuse can be:
Elder Abuse – Physical Abuse of Seniors
How Do I Recognize Physical Abuse?
Indicators of physical abuse include:
Signs of physical abuse:
Sexual abuse is any sexual behaviour directed toward an older adult without that person’s full knowledge and consent; it includes coercing an older person through force, trickery, threats or other means into unwanted sexual activity.
Sexual abuse also includes sexual contact with seniors who are unable to grant consent and unwanted sexual contact between service providers and their elderly clients. Sexual abuse can be very difficult to identify as embarrassment and shame may prevent the issue from being talked about or reported.
How Do I Recognize Sexual Abuse?
Sexual Abuse can be:
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Neglect is not meeting the basic needs of the older person;
Neglect can be: