Safety and Abuse

Elder abuse is a very serious problem in the United States. Seniors may be at greater risk of abuse than others because of social isolation and mental impairment. Abuse can occur in your home, in a nursing home, or in public.
Abusers may be:

• Professional caregivers

• Relatives

• Spouses

• Partners

• Doctors

• Lawyers

• Bankers

• Accountants

• Strangers

Caregivers who are unable to cope with the demands of caring for a senior might release some of this stress by taking advantage of someone who is vulnerable, such as an older adult.
 

Home and Nursing Home Abuse

Most senior abuse occurs at home. However, a lot of abuse occurs in long-term care facilities, such as in nursing homes, out of sight of the general public.
 

Nursing home abuse can take any form:

• Physical abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Neglect

• Financial exploitation

Look carefully at the contract for the residential care facility. The National Long-Term-Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides advocates to help choose a safe nursing home, as well as to resolve suspected senior abuse in a long-term care facility.

If you are being abused or know of someone being abused, or even if you suspect abuse, call 911 or your local police department right away.
 

Types of Abuse

The types of senior abuse are:

• Physical abuse (beating, pushing, shaking, pinching, biting, scratching, burning, slapping)

• Emotional abuse (yelling, belittling, threatening)

• Sexual abuse (rape, fondling, touching inappropriately)

• Neglect or abandonment by caregivers

• Financial exploitation

Financial exploitation of a senior is when someone illegally or improperly uses the senior's assets, funds, or property. Because seniors are sometimes unable to hear or see well, they are easy targets for exploitation. Some of the types of financial abuse are:

• Cashing checks or using an ATM card without authorization

• Using a charge card without authorization

• Convincing or forcing a senior to sign a contract that results in unwanted financial or material commitments

• Getting donations from a senior under false pretenses

• Defrauding a senior so that they sign up for a particular investment opportunity that isn't really appropriate (investment fraud)

• Telemarketing fraud

• Selling sweepstakes entries

• Forging the senior's signature

• Embezzling (steal money for one's own use)

How can senior abuse be prevented?

A senior can do the following to prevent abuse:

• Be socially active and avoid social isolation, which can make you vulnerable to abuse. Keep in touch with family and friends.

• If you are not happy with the care you are receiving from your family or from another caregiver in your home, speak up. You have a right to change.

• If you live in a long-term care facility and have no one close to you who can speak up for you, when you are not happy about your care, contact your state's Long-Term-Care Ombudsman. The Ombudsman's purpose is to be your advocate and to help you.

• Plan for your own financial future with a trusted person or persons. Make sure that your finances are in order ― beneficiaries of insurance policies and IRAs; durable power of attorney; your will; a living will for health care instructions; any trusts you wish to create; titles to your assets, and so on.

What Family Members Can Do

Family members and friends who are not caregivers of the senior can help to prevent abuse:

• Watch for warning signs that might indicate abuse (bruising, soreness, agitation, fear, refusal to speak)

• Make sure that the senior is eating properly and taking required medications. A weakened senior may not be able to think clearly about the care being given.

• Gain trust so that the senior allows you more oversight in financial and caretaking matters.

• Scan bank accounts and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.

• Call and visit as often as you are able. Keep the lines of communication open.
  Source: Rotary Club of Santa Monica, CA and Center for Healthy Aging

Many states have 24-hour toll-free numbers for receiving confidential reports of abuse. You can get more information on elder abuse from the National Center on Elder Abuse on the Internet at www.elderabusecenter.org. For help with locating elder care services, call the Administration on Aging nationwide toll-free Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116.
 

When an elder is in immediate danger, it is best to call 911 or the local police.