Abusers are men and women. In nearly 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member. Two-thirds of the perpetrators are adult children or spouses. Abuse can occur in many places, including in the elderly person's home, a family member's home, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home.
Elder abuse can be from family members, strangers, health care providers, caregivers, or friends. In nursing homes, seniors who are isolated from friends and family are more vulnerable to abuse. Abusers know that they are alone and are not visited often, which makes them targets of abuse, since they know that the chances of being reported or caught are low. Most victims of elder abuse are women, while most perpetrators are men.
In general, adult children are often the perpetrators of elder abuse, followed by other family members and spouses. Unfortunately, institutional abuse of elders (i.e., hospitals, nursing homes, and pension and care homes) is also becoming a major concern, especially as more families are unable to provide adequate care for the elderly in the home. About two-thirds of abusers are spouses and children, and about 60% of abusers are close family members. Report any possible signs of elder abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities (such as 911 in an emergency).
Elder abuse occurs when someone intentionally causes harm to an elderly person or puts them at risk of injury. Elder abuse can worsen if left unchecked, and your older loved one could suffer even more injuries or even die. Emotional abuse is the most common type of abuse of older people, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). For this reason, it is important to closely monitor the well-being of your loved one and take action if you think there is any type of elder abuse taking place.
Elder financial abuse is the illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of an elderly person's resources. Globally, the number of cases of elder abuse is projected to increase, as many countries have rapidly aging populations. It has been suggested that family stress, both psychological and financial, may be a contributing factor to elder abuse. While there is no way to reverse the causes of elder abuse they suffer, seeking compensation through a nursing home abuse lawsuit can help you pay for the medical treatment needed to start the healing process.
While elder abuse is more common than people think, many people don't know how to recognize warning signs. Any unwanted contact, taking explicit photographs, forcing the elderly to undress, abuse and rape, is a form of sexual abuse. Community and social factors related to elder abuse may include age discrimination against older persons and certain cultural norms (for example, elder abuse can lead to premature death, harm physical and psychological health, destroy social and family ties, cause devastating financial losses and more. By this definition, many actions (including physical violence, verbal threats, or inattention) could be considered types of elder abuse.
The 7 most common types of elder abuse include physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, self-neglect and abandonment.
