Education tip: Learn more about elder abuse with the searchable resource library provided by the National Center on Elder Abuse and the University of Southern California.
Elder abuse is a single or repeated act — or even a failure to act — that causes risk or harm to an older adult. Every year, as many as 5 million Americans aged 60 and older are victims of elder abuse, so it’s a pertinent issue for anyone invested in proper care. Research suggests older adults who are abused are three times more likely to die early than those who are not.
Elder abuse comprises a range of actions (and inactions) that negatively impact the health of older adults. Physical abuse may seem like the only form, but financial abuse and total neglect are also common.
There are many warning signs that may indicate someone is experiencing abuse. You can help keep your loved one safe by staying on the lookout for those signs.
Nearly 60 percent of elder abuse is committed by a family member. Most often, the abuser is an adult child or spouse. Elder abuse demographics and circumstances are quite diverse, but the National Council on Elder Abuse reports a few key findings.
Relatives of the victim commit the majority of elder abuse, but institutional abuse is all too common as well. In a recent study, two-thirds of staff members at care facilities admitted to having been the perpetrator of some form of elder abuse within the previous year.
A 2019 report from the Office of the Inspector General noted that 20 percent of nursing home residents’ emergency room visits were determined to be a result of abuse or neglect.
Anyone over 60 can be a victim of elder abuse, but many risk factors make certain older adults more likely to experience abuse or neglect.
There are two major federal elder care laws: the Elder Justice Act and the Older Americans Act.
Each state has its own statutes for and definitions of elder abuse, and not all harmful acts against an older adult are legally considered abuse. For acts that fit under your state’s definition of elder abuse, a lawyer will need to be able to prove intent in order to make any charges stick.
For cases you’re unable to win in criminal court, there is often the option to bring civil charges. In a civil case, your side needs to prove only that the act of abuse occurred in order to win the case. Remember that civil rulings in your loved one’s favor usually just pay out a sum of money. The perpetrator of the abuse does not spend time behind bars.
Reducing elder abuse begins with creating proactive support for both aging loved ones and their caregivers, thus minimizing or eliminating the risk factors that often lead to abuse.
For individuals who have chosen to age in place, these are just a few of the actions to take to help prevent elder abuse.
If your loved one lives in a senior care community, such as a nursing home or assisted living facility, consider taking these steps to ensure their ongoing safety.
In addition to providing your loved one with enough knowledge to look out for themselves, it’s imperative to learn to recognize warning signs of abuse so you can report it immediately and minimize damage.
Developed to improve the nation’s prevention of and response to elder abuse, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) is a multidisciplinary organization of collaborators who have varied health expertise in elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The NCEA serves as a national resource center dedicated to engaging and empowering older people so they can be advocates for themselves and their communities. It partners with communities to ensure the best social structures are in place so older people can remain connected to their communities and society as a whole, reducing the likelihood of abuse.
Education tip: Learn more about elder abuse with the searchable resource library provided by the National Center on Elder Abuse and the University of Southern California.
If you believe the older adult you’re concerned about is in immediate or life-threatening danger, call 911. Otherwise, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests you share any suspicions of elder abuse with your local Adult Protective Services, the agency responsible for investigating all reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of seniors. Your report is confidential, and you are not responsible for proving abuse has occurred.
Since doctors and nurses are mandatory reporters, sharing your concerns with them should also lead to a formal inquiry. It’s best to make a report yourself, however, especially if you’re concerned about the treatment of an older individual who lives in residential care, where abuse rates are high. Alternatively, you may benefit from reaching out to your local long-term care ombudsman.
When you call Adult Protective Services, you’ll be asked for the following information about the individual you suspect is a victim of abuse:
They may also ask you about medical issues, family and social support, and whether you have directly witnessed abuse.
In my experience as a caregiver, it’s important to remember that elder abuse doesn’t always happen intentionally. I’ve compiled a list of guides to help caregivers navigate the often complex world of caring for a loved one.
Elder abuse includes any action that causes physical, mental, or sexual harm to an older adult. Types of abuse often categorized under elder abuse include physical, emotional or psychological, financial, sexual, neglect, abandonment, and self-neglect.
Legal definitions of elder abuse vary by state and type of abuse. For definitions and statutes related to your state, reference the American Bar Association’s summary chart.
Emotional abuse is the most common type of elder abuse, followed by neglect and financial abuse. Severe underreporting makes it difficult to know the accuracy of prevalence statistics though. Financial abuse is self-reported more than any other form of abuse.
The first step to preventing elder abuse is learning how to recognize it, which involves understanding the various signs of elder abuse and how to spot them.The first step to preventing elder abuse is learning how to recognize it, which involves understanding the various signs of elder abuse and how to spot them.
An older adult must be 60 (or 65 in some states) or older for abuse to be considered elder abuse.