(National Center on Elder Abuse) Elder abuse is a growing problem. While we don’t know all of the details about why abuse occurs or how to stop its spread, we do know that help is available for victims. Concerned people, like you, can spot the warning signs of a possible problem, and make a call for help if an elder is in need of assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. What is elder abuse?
- Federal definitions of elder abuse first appeared in the 1987 Amendments to the Older Americans Act, however, these definitions are guidelines. Each state defines elder abuse according to its unique statutes and regulations, and definitions vary from state to state. Researchers also use varying definitions to describe and study the problem.
Domestic elder abuse generally refers to any of the following types of mistreatment that are committed by someone with whom the elder has a special relationship (for example, a spouse, sibling, child, friend, or caregiver).
Institutional abuse generally refers to any of the following types of mistreatment occurring in residential facilities (such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, group home, board and care facility, foster home, etc.) and is usually perpetrated by someone with a legal or contractual obligation to provide some element of care or protection.
Elder abuse can affect people of all ethnic backgrounds and social status and can affect both men and women. The following types of abuse are commonly accepted as the major categories of elder mistreatment:
- Physical Abuse—Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need.
- Emotional Abuse—Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts.
- Sexual Abuse—Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, coercing an elder to witness sexual behaviors.
- Exploitation—Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.
- Neglect—Refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care or protection for a vulnerable elder.
- Abandonment—The desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
Although there are distinct types of abuse defined, it is not uncommon for an elder to experience more than one type of mistreatment at the same or different times. For example, a person financially exploiting an elder may also be neglecting to provide appropriate care, food, medication, etc. Visit the Types of Abuse section to learn more about the types of elder abuse.
- 2. What are the warning signs of elder abuse?
- While one sign does not necessarily indicate abuse, some indicators that there could be a problem are:
- Change Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.
- Bruises around the breasts or genital area can occur from sexual abuse.
- Sudden change in alertness and unusual depression may be indicators of emotional abuse.
- Sudden changes in financial situations may be the result of exploitation.
- Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and unusual weight loss are indicators of possible neglect.
- Behavior such as belittling, threats, and other uses of power and control by spouses or those who should be in a position of trust are indicators of verbal or emotional abuse.
- Strained or tense relationships, frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person are also signs. Read the “Families and Caregivers” section on our NCEA Publications Database for more information about how caregivers can prevent elder abuse.
It’s important to remain alert. The suffering is often in silence. If you notice changes in personality, behavior, or physical condition, you should start to question what is going on.
- 3. What is self-neglect and what are the signs?
- Tragically, sometimes elders neglect their own care, which can lead to illness or injury. Self-neglect can include behaviors such as:
- Hoarding of objects, newspapers/magazines, mail/paperwork, etc., and/or animal hoarding to the extent that the safety of the individual (and/or other household or community members) is threatened or compromised.
- Failure to provide adequate food and nutrition for oneself.
- Failure to take essential medications or refusal to seek medical treatment for serious illness
- Leaving a burning stove unattended
- Poor hygiene
- Not wearing suitable clothing for the weather
- Confusion
- Inability to attend to housekeeping
- Dehydration
Self-neglect is one of the most frequently reported concerns brought to adult protective services. Oftentimes, the problem is paired with declining health, isolation, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, or drug and alcohol dependency.
In some of these cases, elders will be connected to supports in the community that can allow them to continue living on their own. Some conditions like depression and malnutrition may be successfully treated through medical intervention. If the problems are severe enough, a guardian may be appointed.
- 4. What makes an older adult vulnerable to abuse?
- Elder abuse, like other types of domestic violence, is extremely complex. Generally a combination of psychological, social, and economic factors, along with the mental and physical conditions of the victim and the perpetrator, contribute to the occurrence of elder maltreatment.
Although the factors listed below cannot explain all types of elder maltreatment, because it is likely that different types (as well as each single incident) involve different casual factors, they are some of the risk factors researchers say seem to be related to elder abuse.
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment
Elders with dementia are thought to be at greater risk of abuse and neglect than those of the general elderly population. Risk factors for this population include the caregivers heightened perception of burden and depressive symptoms, as well as the care recipients’s psychological aggression and physical assault behaviors.Domestic Violence Grown Old
It is important to acknowledge that spouses make up a large percentage of elder abusers, and that a substantial proportion of these cases are domestic violence grown old: partnerships in which one member of a couple has traditionally tried to exert power and control over the other through emotional abuse, physical violence and threats, isolation, and other tactics.Personal Problems of Abusers
Particularly in the case of adult children, abusers often are dependent on their victims for financial assistance, housing, and other forms of support. Oftentimes they need this support because of personal problems, such as mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, or other dysfunctional personality characteristics. The risk of elder abuse seems to be particularly high when these adult children live with the elder.Living with Others and Social Isolation
Both living with someone else and being socially isolated have been associated with higher elder abuse rates. These seemingly contradictory findings may turn out to be related in that abusers who live with the elder have more opportunity to abuse and yet may be isolated from the larger community themselves or may seek to isolate the elders from others so that the abuse is not discovered. Further research needs to be done to explore the relationship between these factors. - 5. Who are the abusers of older people?
- Although more research is needed, most cases of elder abuse are perpetrated by known and trusted others, particularly family members (including adult children, spouses, and others). Abusers can be men or women, of any age, race, or socio-economic status. Elder mistreatment is perpetrated by family members, friends, service providers, peers, and strangers.
- 6. Are there criminal penalties for the abusers?
- Although laws vary from state to state, in most states there are several laws that address criminal penalties for various types of elder abuse. Some states have increased penalties for those who victimize older adults. Increasingly, across the country, law enforcement officers and prosecutors are trained on elder abuse and how to use criminal and civil laws to bring abusers to justice. Read about state elder abuse laws, important legal issues, and how to access the laws in our Laws Section of Library.
- 7. How many people are suffering from elder abuse?
- Visit the Statistics/Data section of our website for information about incidence and prevalence of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- 8. Who do I call if I suspect elder abuse?
- 9. What can I do if concerned about possible abuse or neglect in a nursing home?
- If you suspect abuse or neglect of someone living in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or board and care home, contact a local Long-Term Care Ombudsman for more information. For a directory of state reporting numbers and resources, visit the State Resources page.
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
(formerly NCCNHR):- Empowers and educates consumers and families
- Trains and supports individuals and groups to advocate for and empower consumers
- Promotes the critical role of direct-care workers and best practices in quality-care delivery
- Advocates for public policies that support quality care and life
The website provides information and resources to help residents
understand your rights and advocate for quality care, as well as for family members and friends . - 10. What should I expect if I call someone for help?
- 11. What should I look for in a good nursing home or assisted living facility?
- A Long-Term Care Ombudsman can help you understand and compare local options.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supports Nursing Home Compare, a federal website that allows you to find Medicare- and Medicaid- certified nursing homes in your area and learn how they rate by various quality measures. In conjunction with this website, you can use the “Nursing Home Checklist” when visiting different nursing homes. CMS also provides information on Alternatives to Nursing Home Care.
- 12. How can I protect against frauds and scams?
- Unscrupulous people target seniors and will abuse or take advantage of them. Consider doing the following:
- Learn about the types of elder abuse and neglect and associated warning signs.
- Get on the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce telemarketing calls. Visitwww.DoNotCall.gov or call 888-382-1222 to register your phone number.
- If you are offered a “prize,” “loan,” “investment,” etc. that sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
- Consult with someone you trust before making a large purchase or investment. Don’t be pressured or intimidated into immediate decisions.
- Don’t sign any documents that you don’t completely understand without first consulting an attorney, family member, or close friend that you trust.
- Do not provide personal information (social security number, credit card number, etc.) over the phone unless you initiated the call and you know with whom you are speaking.
- Tear up or shred credit card receipts, bank statements, and financial records before disposing of them in the trash.
- If you hire someone for personal assistance services, in home care services, etc. ensure that they have been properly screened with criminal background checks completed.
Find out what to do if you have already been scammed through our fact sheet and poster here!
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers information and tools for older Americans.
The Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force offers resources and reports to help protect yourself against common types of frauds and scams.
Stay alert to common frauds and scams by checking consumer protection sites such asFraud.org
and FBI Common Fraud Schemes. - 13. How can elder abuse be prevented?
- Educating seniors, professionals, caregivers, and the public on abuse is critical to prevention. On an individual level, some simple but vital steps to reduce the risk:
- Take care of your health.
- Seek professional help for drug, alcohol, and depression concerns, and urge family members to get help for these problems.
- Attend support groups for spouses and learn about domestic violence services.
- Plan for your own future. With a limited power of attorney or a living will, health care decisions can be addressed to avoid confusion and family problems, should you become incapacitated. Seek independent advice from someone you trust before signing any documents.
- Stay active in the community and connected with friends and family. This will decrease social isolation, which has been connected to elder abuse.
- Know your rights. If you engage the services of a paid or family caregiver, you have the right to voice your preferences and concerns. If you live in a nursing home or board and care home, call your Long Term Care Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is your advocate and has the power to intervene.
All states have adult protective and long-term care ombudsman programs, family care supports, and home and community care services that can help older adults with activities of daily living. Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 for information and referrals on services in your area.
Visit our Get Involved section to learn how concerned citizens of all ages can become involved in prevention.
- 14. Why Should I Care About Elder Abuse?
- Elder abuse can truly happen to anyone. Research indicates that one in ten American elders is affected by abuse. Unfortunately, elder abuse can happen in all types of relationships as a result of family dynamics, care giver interactions, or targeted scams that prey on vulnerability. Only through YOU can we make progress in changing the statistics and addressing the abuse that is occurring.
Please read the NCEA fact sheet, “Why Should I Care About Elder Abuse?”
for more information and resources. - 15. What are the signs to look for when visiting an elderly relative?
- Please read the NCEA “Home for the Holidays” document to be aware of the signs of self-neglect, neglect, and abuse by others to your elderly relatives.
- 16. How can financial exploitation be prevented in Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Facilities?
- Financial exploitation happens when someone illegally or improperly uses an older adult’s money or belongings for their personal use. Financial exploitation is the fastest growing form of elder abuse. It is a crime and is often not reported. Learn how to protect yourself or your loved one through our fact sheets below:
Help with Nursing Homes
Help with Assisted Living Facilities
http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/faq/index.aspx
National Center on Elder Abuse, Administration on Aging