« Back to Glossary Index
Elder abuse is any intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or creates a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, as well as neglect and abandonment.
Key Features:
- Physical Abuse: Inflicting physical pain or injury.
- Emotional Abuse: Causing emotional distress through verbal assaults, threats, or intimidation.
- Sexual Abuse: Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
- Financial Abuse: Illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets.
- Neglect: Failure to provide necessary care, such as food, shelter, or medical attention.
- Abandonment: Desertion of an elder by a caregiver.
- Often Hidden: Elder abuse is frequently underreported and hidden from view.
- Violation of Trust: Often perpetrated by someone the elder trusts, such as a family member or caregiver.
Who is Affected by Elder Abuse?
- Older adults who are vulnerable due to age, disability, or cognitive decline.
- Individuals who rely on others for care.
- People who are socially isolated.
- Anyone who is an older adult.
The Misconception: Elder Abuse is Just “Physical Violence” and “Only Happens to Strangers.”
The Interesting Angle: Elder Abuse is Like “Breaking the Invisible Bonds of Trust” – It’s About Exploiting Vulnerability and Causing Deep Emotional Scars, Not Just Physical Harm, and It’s About Betrayal by Those Closest to You, Not Just Random Acts of Crime!
- The Common Misunderstanding:
- People think elder abuse is primarily physical and that it’s mostly committed by strangers.
- The Real Story: Breaking the Invisible Bonds of Trust
- Think of elder abuse as a way to:
- Cause deep emotional pain: Words and actions can be just as damaging as physical blows.
- Exploit trust and vulnerability: Those closest to the elder can be the abusers.
- Steal dignity and independence: Financial abuse and neglect can rob an elder of their autonomy.
- Create a climate of fear and isolation: Victims may be afraid to speak out.
- It is about the violation of a relationship: Not just a single harmful act.
- It’s about breaking the trust, not just causing pain.
- It’s about the erosion of well-being, and not just isolated incidents.
- Think of elder abuse as a way to:
- Why This is Powerful:
- It changes the idea from “physical violence” to “betrayal of trust.”
- It shows that elder abuse is about more than just physical harm.
- It helps people see the importance of recognizing all forms of abuse.
- The “Get it Wrong” Factor:
- People think it’s only physical violence, but it includes emotional, financial, and neglect.
- They think it’s mostly by strangers, but it’s often by family or caregivers.
- They think it is only about physical harm, and not about emotional and financial harm.
Why Elder Abuse is Important:
Elder abuse is a serious problem that affects millions of older adults. It can have devastating consequences, including:
- Physical injuries: From bruises and fractures to serious medical conditions.
- Emotional trauma: Leading to depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Financial ruin: Loss of savings, property, and assets.
- Loss of independence: Reduced ability to care for oneself.
- Premature death: In severe cases, abuse can lead to death.
- Erosion of community trust: Undermines the sense of safety for all older adults.
How to Report Elder Abuse:
- Adult Protective Services (APS):
- Contact your local APS agency to report suspected abuse.
- Search “[your state] Adult Protective Services”
- Local Law Enforcement:
- Report suspected criminal activity to the police or sheriff’s department.
- National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA):
- Provides information and resources on elder abuse.
- Link: https://www.napsa-now.org/
- The Eldercare Locator:
- Helps find local services and resources for older adults, including APS.
- Link: https://eldercare.acl.gov/
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs:
- For residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
- Search “[your state] Long term care ombudsman”.
Resources for Elder Abuse and Related Information:
- National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA):
- Provides information and resources on elder abuse.
- Link: https://www.napsa-now.org/
- National Council on Aging (NCOA):
- Offers resources and programs to prevent elder abuse.
- Link: https://www.ncoa.org/
- Administration on Aging (AoA):
- Provides information on federal programs and initiatives to prevent elder abuse.
- Information can be found on the HHS.gov website.
- Eldercare Locator:
- Helps find local services and resources for older adults, including APS.
- Link: https://eldercare.acl.gov/
- AARP (American Association of Retired Persons):
- Provides information on elder abuse and how to prevent it.
- Link: https://www.aarp.org/