what is elder abuse?

Many older people who live at home are at risk of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation by family members and others close to them.
 
Victims of abuse are often isolated, and they may be afraid or unable to seek help for themselves.
 
Know the signs. In many cases, the only person outside the family who sees the victim is the health care provider, homemaker, caseworker, meals on wheels volunteer or attorney; therefore, it is critical that all know the signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Elder abuse can happen in the following ways:

• Physical abuse means inflicting pain or injury upon an older person.
  
• Sexual Abuse means touching, fondling or any other sexual activity with an older adult, when the person is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened or physically forced.
  
• Emotional abuse means verbal assaults, threats, harassment or intimidation. Emotional abuse is often coupled with other forms of abuse.
  
• Confinement means restraining or isolating an older person, other than for medical reasons.
  
• Passive neglect means the caregiver's failure to provide an older person with life's necessities, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter or medical care.
  
• Willful deprivation means willfully denying an older person medication, medical care, shelter, food, a therapeutic device or other physical assistance, and thereby exposing that person to the risk of physical, mental or emotional harm except when the dependent person, who is capable of making reasoned decisions, has expressed an intent to forego such care.
  
• Financial exploitation means the misuse or withholding of an older person's resources by another, to the disadvantage of the elderly person and/or the profit or advantage of someone else.