Elder abuse, the mistreatment of an older person, takes many forms. Abuse can come in the form of physical and emotional abuse, financial exploitation or neglect. But whatever the form, elder abuse hurts - physically, emotionally and socially. The suffering that results can"t be erased, but continued suffering can be reduced with heightened awareness.
Elder abuse is a complex problem surrounded by misconceptions. Elder abuse is under-reported because victims are typically dependent upon the abuser and afraid of retaliation. Most incidents of elder abuse occur in the home. Four in five abusers are family members. Most are substance abusers. Some snap under the stress of caregiving, unaware that help is available.
Effective interventions can prevent or stop elder abuse. By increasing awareness among the general public, physicians, mental health professionals, home health workers, and others who provide services to older adults and family members, patterns of abuse and neglect can be broken and both the abused person and the abuser can receive needed help.
Anyone suspecting abuse should make a report as soon as possible and Contact Steven Peck's Premier Legal toll free at 1-866-999-9085 to talk to an experienced elder abuse lawyer.
Would you know the signs of abuse if you saw them?
If you"re concerned that an older adult might be abused, knowing the signs and symptoms of abuse can help you determine if there is a problem. These signs and symptoms may include:
• Physical injury. Examples of questionable injuries include bruises cuts, burn or rope marks, and broken bones are sprains that can"t be explained. Other signs of potential problems include sudden changes in behavior, comments about treatment or the refusal of the caregiver to allow you to visit the older person alone.
• Lack of physical care. Indications of substandard physical care include dehydration, malnourishment, weight loss, and poor hygiene. Bed sores, soiled bedding, unmet medical needs, and comments about being mistreated also may indicate a problem.
• Unusual behaviors. Changes in an older person"s behavior or emotional state may suggest a problem. Examples include agitation, withdrawal, fear or anxiety, apathy, or reports of being treated improperly.
• Changes in living arrangement. Unexplained changes in living arrangement, such as the appearance of previously uninvolved relatives or newly met strangers moving in, might suggest mistreatment.
• Unaccounted for financial changes. Some potentially problematic financial changes include missing money or valuables, unexplained financial transactions, unpaid bills despite available funds and sudden transfer of assets, as well as comments about being exploited.
