Types of Elder Abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is physical force or violence that results in bodily injury,
pain, or impairment. It includes assault, battery, and inappropriate restraint.
Who are the perpetrators?
Perpetrators may be acquaintances, sons, daughters, grandchildren, or
others. Physical abuse that is perpetrated by spouses or intimate partners
in order to gain power and control over the victim is described in the
section on domestic violence. Perpetrators are likely to be unmarried,
to live with their victims, and to be unemployed. Some perpetrators have
alcohol or substance abuse problems. Some are caregivers for those they
abuse.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is any form of non-consensual physical contact. It includes
rape, molestation, or any sexual conduct with a person who lacks the mental
capacity to exercise consent.
Who are the perpetrators?
Perpetrators of sexual abuse include attendants, employees of care facilities,
family members (including spouses), and others.
Domestic violence
Domestic violence is an escalating pattern of violence or intimidation
by an intimate partner, which is used to gain power and control.
Several categories of domestic violence against the elderly have been
identified:
"Domestic violence grown old"
is when domestic violence started earlier in life and persists into old
age
"Late onset domestic violence"
begins in old age. There may have been a strained relationship or emotional
abuse earlier that got worse as the partners aged. When abuse begins or
is exacerbated in old age, it is likely to be linked to:
- Retirement
- Disability
- Changing roles of family members
- Sexual changes
- Some older people enter into abusive relationships late in lif
Psychological abuse
Psychological abuse is the willful infliction of mental or emotional
anguish by threat, humiliation, or other verbal or nonverbal conduct.
Cultural values and expectations play a significant role in how psychological
abuse is manifested and how it affects its victims.
Financial abuse
Elder financial abuse spans a broad spectrum of conduct, including:
- Taking money or property
- Forging an older person's signature
- Getting an older person to sign a deed, will, or power of attorney
through deception, coercion, or undue influence
- Using the older person's property or possessions without permission
- Promising lifelong care in exchange for money or property and not following through on the promise
- Confidence crimes ("cons") are the use of deception to gain victims' confidence
- Scams are fraudulent or deceptive acts
- Fraud is the use of deception, trickery, false pretence, or dishonest acts or statements for financial gain
- Telemarketing scams. Perpetrators call victims and use deception, scare tactics, or exaggerated claims to get them to send money. They may also make charges against victims' credit cards without authorization
Neglect
Neglect is the failure of caregivers to fulfill their responsibilities
to provide needed care.
"Active" neglect refers to behavior
that is willful - that is, the caregiver intentionally withholds care
or necessities. The neglect may be motivated by financial gain (e.g. the
caregiver stands to inherit) or reflect interpersonal conflicts
"Passive" neglect refers to situations
in which the caregiver is unable to fulfill his or her care giving responsibilities
as a result of illness, disability, stress, ignorance, lack of maturity,
or lack of resources
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