Older Adult Protective Service

Types of Abuse

• Physical abuse happens when someone causes bodily harm by hitting, pushing, or slapping.
• Emotional abuse, sometimes called psychological abuse, can include a caregiver saying hurtful words, yelling, threatening, or repeatedly ignoring the older person. Keeping that person from seeing close friends and relatives is another form of emotional abuse.
• Neglect occurs when the caregiver does not try to respond to the older person's needs. Abandonment is leaving a senior alone without planning for his or her care.
• Sexual abuse involves a caregiver forcing an older adult to watch or be part of sexual acts.
• Financial exploitation happens when money or belongings are stolen. It can include forging checks, taking someone else's retirement and Social Security benefits, or using another person's credit cards and bank accounts.

Signs of Older Adult Abuse

Although these signs do not always mean an older adult is being abused, it is important to be aware that elder abuse can occur at any time to anyone over 60 years of age.

• Injuries - bruises, broken bones, bedsores, and other physical trauma
• Weight loss - may be due to stress or lack of food
• Dementia - may be blamed on "old age" when the real cause is malnutrition or drug interactions or side effects
• Isolation - seldom if ever leaves his/her residence or receives visitors
• Unusual behavior related to money - withdrawing large sums from a bank account without apparent reason
• Unwarranted legal proceedings - signing over his or her home to a relative