Abuse & Neglect
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is defined as the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury. Physical abuse includes inappropriate use of drugs and physical restraints.
Some signs of physical abuse but not for residents alone but staff as well:
- Bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations, and rope marks
- Bone fractures, broken bones, and skull fractures
- Open wounds, cuts, punctures
- Sprains, dislocations, and internal injuries/bleeding
- Bruises, contusions, or lesions
- Broken eyeglasses/frames, physical signs of being subjected to punishment, and signs of being restrained
- An elder’s sudden change in behavior
- The caregiver’s refusal to allow visitors to see an elder alone
- Elder's non-responsive
- Presence of unjustified chemical or physical restraints
- Frequent hospital visits
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is defined as the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment. In addition, isolating an elderly person, giving an older person the “silent treatment;” and social isolation are examples of emotional abuse.
Some signs of emotional abuse include:
- Attempts to control others
- Being emotionally agitated
- Being extremely withdrawn and communicative or non-responsive
- Unusual behavior
- Depression or isolation
- Fear or anxiety
- Name calling
- Criticizing
- Nit picking
- Accusations
- Humiliation
- Blaming
- Talking down to you
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is defined as non-consensual sexual contact of any kind,with any person not giving consent unwanted touching, and sexual photographing.
Signs of sexual abuse include:
- Bruises around private areas
- Unexplained venereal disease
- Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
- Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
- An elder’s report of being sexually assaulted
- Fear or suddenly afraid to be around opposite sex
- High anxiety
- Anger and/or combativeness
sexual harassment
Signs of sexual harassment include:
- Offensive touching
- Sexual comments
- Proposal of benefits for sex
- Perverse joking
- Romantic or sexual gestures
- Exposure to sexual images
- Exposure to private parts
- Inappropriate texting or emails
- Inappropriate complaints
- Ones privacy being invaded
Abandonment
Abandonment is defined as the desertion of an elderly person by an individual who has assumed responsibility for that person or persons.
Neglect
Neglect is defined as the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elder. Neglect may also include failure of a person who has fiduciary responsibilities to provide care for an elder. Neglect typically means the refusal or failure to provide an elderly person with such life necessities as food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medicine, comfort, personal safety.
Some signs of neglect include:
- Dehydration, malnutrition
- Unattended or untreated health problems
- Hazardous or unsafe living conditions/arrangements (no heat, or no running water)
- Unsanitary or unclean living conditions
- Bed sores
- Skin tears
- Skin rash
- Significant weight loss
- Poor hygiene
- Withholding food and/or drinks
- Inadequate supervision resulting in falls or injuries
Financial or Material Theft
Financial or material theft is defined as the illegal use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets.
Some signs of financial or material theft:
- Sudden changes in a bank account
- Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
- Unexplained disappearances of funds or valuable possessions
- Discovery of an elder’s signature being forged for financial transactions or for the titles of his/her possessions
- The provision of services that are not necessary
Healthcare fraud
Some signs of healthcare fraud:
- Not providing healthcare, but charging it
- Overcharging or double-billing for services
- Getting kickbacks for referrals for prescribing certain drugs
- Over medicating or under medicating
- Recommending fraudulent remedies for illnesses or other medical conditions
- Medical fraud
- Falsifying services
- Charged for unneeded services
