Elder Safety Information

Elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Elder abuse can affect people of all ethnic backgrounds and social status and can affect both men and women. Broadly and generally defined, abuse may be:
• Physical Abuse - Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need.
• Emotional Abuse - Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts.
• Sexual Abuse - Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
• Exploitation - Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.
• Neglect - Refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care or protection for a vulnerable elder.
• Abandonment - The desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
There are some tell-tale signs that could indicate there may be a problem of abuse, both physical and financial. Those signs may include some of the following:
• Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.
• Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness, and unusual depression may be indicators of emotional abuse.
• Bruises around the breasts or genital area can occur from sexual abuse.
• Sudden changes in financial situations may be the result of exploitation.
• Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and unusual weight loss are indicators of possible neglect.
• Behavior such as belittling, threats and other uses of power and control by spouses are indicators of verbal or emotional abuse.
• Strained or tense relationships, frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person are also signs.
• Withdrawn
• Confused or extremely forgetful
• Depressed
• Helpless or angry
• Hesitant to talk freely
• Frightened
• Secretive
• Elder is isolated or lonely with no visitors or relatives
• Family members or caregiver isolate the individual, restricting the person’s contact with others.
• Elder is not given the opportunity to speak freely or have contact with others without the caregiver being present.

For family members it is most important to be alert. The suffering is often seen as silence. If you notice changes in personality or behavior, you should start to question what is going on. Tragically, sometimes elders neglect their own care, which can lead to illness or injury. Self-neglect can include behaviors such as:
• Hoarding
• Failure to take essential medications or refusal to seek medical treatment for serious illness
• Leaving a burning stove unattended
• Poor hygiene
• Not wearing suitable clothing for the weather
• Confusion
• Inability to attend to housekeeping
• Dehydration

Oftentimes, the problem is paired with declining health, isolation, Alzheimer's disease or dementia, or drug and alcohol dependency. In some of these cases, elders will be connected to supports in the community that can allow them to continue living on their own. Some conditions like depression and malnutrition may be successfully treated through medical intervention.

Social isolation and mental impairment (such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease) are two factors that may make an older person extremely vulnerable to abuse. But, in some situations, studies show that living with someone else (a caregiver or a friend) may increase the chances for abuse to occur. A history of domestic violence may also make a senior more susceptible to abuse.

Abusers of older adults may be both women and men. Family members are more often the abusers than any other group. For several years, it has been shown that adult children were the most common abusers of family members; recent information indicates spouses are becoming abusers as well. The bottom line is that elder abuse is a family issue.

Financial abuse of seniors is a growing form of abuse that must be addressed. Financial abuse is generally considered the theft or embezzlement of money or any other property from an elder. It can be as simple as taking money from a wallet and as complex as manipulating a victim into turning over property to an abuser. This form of abuse can be devastating because an elder victim’s life savings can disappear in the blink of an eye, leaving them unable to provide for their needs and afraid of what an uncertain tomorrow will bring.

There are some significant potential signs that may indicate the existence of possible fiscal abuse being present. Any one or more of these indicators does not necessarily mean that abuse has occurred. They should not be ignored, but looked into. Some specific potential warning signs of financial abuse of elders may be:
• Unusual bank account activity, such as withdrawals from automatic teller machines when the individual cannot get to the bank.
• Signatures on checks and other documents that do not resemble the elder’s signature.
• Checks or other documents signed when the elder cannot write or understand what he or she may be signing.
• Lack of personal amenities – appropriate clothing and grooming items.
• Numerous unpaid bills when someone else has been designated to pay the bills.
• Change in spending patterns, such as buying items he or she doesn’t need and can’t use.
• The appearance of a stranger who begins a new close relationship and offers to manage the elder’s finances and assets.

While financial elder abuse can take many forms, the most widespread financial abuses include telemarketing fraud, internet “phishing” for personal or banking information, identity theft, predatory lending and home improvement and estate planning scams. It is important to be aware of how these crimes commonly are perpetrated and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Each one of us has a responsibility to keep our vulnerable elders safe from harm, both physical and financial. Call the police or 9-1-1 immediately if someone you know is in immediate, life-threatening danger. If the danger is not immediate, but you suspect that some type of abuse has occurred or is occurring, please tell someone. Relay your concerns to the local adult protective services, long-term care ombudsman, or police.

If you have been the victim of abuse, exploitation, or neglect, you are not alone. Many people care and can help. Please tell your doctor, a friend, a family member you trust, or call the Florence Police Department at 541 997-3515.