What Is Elder Abuse?

What Is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse is an act or lack of appropriate action that harms an older person and is committed by someone with whom that elder has an expectation of trust.

Professional caretakers, family members, friends, and strangers can all commit elder abuse, and this abuse can take many forms, from physical to emotional to financial.

According to the NCOA, elder abuse increases an elderly person’s risk of death threefold. In addition, elder financial abuse costs older Americans $2.9-$36.5 Billion a year in financial exploitation and fraud.

Quick Facts About Elder Abuse

• The NCOA estimates that about 10% of all Americans aged 60 or older have experienced some form of elder abuse.
• The NCOA estimates that as many as 5 million elders are abused in the U.S. each year.
• A study by the National Research Council estimated that only 1 in 14 elder abuse cases are reported to authorities.
• In almost 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member.
• Abused elders have a 300% higher risk of death than elders who have not been abused.

Types of Elder Abuse

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) recognizes 7 different types of elder abuse.

Physical Abuse

Physical elder abuse is the improper and intentional use of physical force against an elder, resulting in bodily impairment, pain, injury, or harm.

Physical elder abuse may include:

• Physical violence: This includes actions like punching, pushing, or grabbing
• Threat of violence: Implying or threatening physical harm
• Caretaker violence: Being unnecessarily rough with an older person, such as during bathing or dressing
• Physical restraint: Restricting the movement of an elder physically or by the inappropriate use of medications

Sexual Abuse

Any non-consensual sexual contact with an elderly person is elder sexual abuse. The sexual acts may be unwelcomed or done to an elder who is unable to legally consent — often due to mental disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Sexual elder abuse may include:

• Sexual assault: Unwanted touching or other sexual activities with an elder
• Unwelcome advances: Sexual harassment and unwanted verbal sexual advances
• Sexual activity without consent: Any sexual contact with an elder who has been ruled unable to grant informed consent, who is not conscious, or who did not expressly consent to sexual activity

Financial Abuse

Financial elder abuse occurs when someone takes money or assets from an older person without their consent or without their full knowledge and understanding.

Financial elder abuse may include:

• Stealing assets: Forging signatures of an elderly person, committing identity theft, using an elder’s credit card to make purchases or withdraw cash, etc.
• Taking control of assets: Getting property deeds, accessing an inheritance, or other means of acquiring an elder’s assets that are exploitative
• Coercion and abuse of power: Using a position of power or trust over an elder to get them to change a will or enter into a financial transaction for personal gain

Emotional Abuse

Psychological or emotional elder abuse refers to attempts to intimidate, demean, or belittle an older person.

Emotional elder abuse may include:

• Verbal abuse: Shouting, cursing at, insulting, or bullying an older person
• Threats: Threatening to mistreat an elder, to withhold important support or services, etc.
• Isolation: Cutting an elder off from their friends, family, and social networks
• Limiting choices: Robbing an elder of their independence by limiting their freedom to choose everyday activities

Other Types of Elder Abuse

The remaining 3 types of elder abuse are often considered forms of neglect by state law. Neglect is a form of abuse that involves failing to properly care for someone — and it can be just as harmful as other types of elder abuse.

The 3 remaining types of elder abuse include:

• Neglect: Elder neglect happens when a caregiver fails to meet the expected needs of a dependent older adult.
• Self-neglect: This occurs when an older adult who can no longer take care of themselves refuses or does not seek help, leading to a decline in wellbeing.
• Abandonment: Elder abandonment occurs when the caretaker of an older adult permanently deserts the elderly person who was in their care.

Elder Abuse Causes

Elder abuse may occur for many reasons. The demands of looking after an elderly person and the vulnerability of a dependent older adult may both be root causes of elder abuse.

Elder abuse may be caused by:

• Caretaker Stress

  Both professional and family caretakers can burn out or become overstressed from caring for an elderly person, increasing the risk of abuse and neglect. This is especially true of caretakers who do not have much emotional, financial, and practical support.

• Cultural and Familial Influences

  How caretakers and families view elders can impact the likelihood of elder abuse. A culture’s tolerance toward violence, view of the elderly, and expectations of family members in regard to caring for elders can all have an effect.

• Understaffing in Nursing Homes

  Many nursing homes do not have enough caretakers to adequately see to the needs of all of their residents. This lack of staffing means that caretakers are often expected to work long hours for low wages, increasing stress and exhaustion. This may lead to skipping important care steps, rushing nursing home residents, and taking longer to respond to care requests.

Elder Abuse Risk Factors

While elder abuse can happen to any older person, certain factors put some elders at a higher risk of abuse.

Some elder abuse risk factors include:

• Poor physical health: Elders in poor physical health may be more at risk of abuse because they are more dependent on other people. This means they may be more likely to give in to threats or coercion out of fear of losing support. These elders are also less able to defend themselves physically against abusers or to leave an abusive situation.
• Poor mental health: A 2014 study found that elders who suffer from conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s are more likely to be victims of abuse. Not only are such elders often easier to take advantage of, people are less likely to believe them when they report abuse.
• Shared living situation: The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that elders may be at greater risk for abuse if they are in a shared living situation, where there are more opportunities for conflict between a caretaker and an older adult.
• Social isolation: Elders who are socially isolated may be more likely to be manipulated by an abuser due to loneliness and less likely to report abuse. Isolated elders may also be at higher risk because there are fewer people around to notice the abuse.

Who Commits Elder Abuse?

Anyone is capable of committing elder abuse. In fact, according to the NCOA, 60% of all perpetrators of elder abuse are family members. Some individuals look for vulnerable victims like the elderly. However, some caretakers — even those with good intentions — may be more likely to mistreat an elder.

Caretakers are at greater risk of committing elder abuse if they:

• Are not trained or well prepared for caregiving responsibilities
• Have high financial dependence on the elder
• Have little or no access to caregiving services such as respite care
• Have negative beliefs about aging and elders
• Have substance abuse or mental health problems
• Lack social and emotional support

Many Types & Instances of Elder Abuse

• Elder abuse comes in many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual and financial, and it is not always obvious.
• According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, 5% to 10% of self-reported elder abuses are physical, 60% are verbal and 14% are neglect.
• Physical abuse occurs when a patient is harmed by physical force.
• Elders can also be emotionally abused with threats, intimidation, social isolation and more.
• Neglect is the failure to provide an elder’s basic life necessities, such as food, housing, medicine or hygiene.
• Financial abuse happens when an individual’s financial resources are exploited or withheld.
• It is estimated that 5.2% of elderly people report financial exploitation from a family member.
• Elders are more likely to report financial abuse than any of the other forms.

Breakdown of Complaints

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, the breakdown of elder abuse complaints is as follows:

• 27.4% – Physical abuse
• 22.1% – Resident-on-resident abuse (physical or sexual)
• 19.4% – Psychological abuse
• 15.3% – Gross neglect
• 7.9% – Sexual abuse
• 7.9% – Financial exploitation

Who Is At Risk?

• Men and women are both at risk of elder abuse, although women are more likely to be abused—in fact, 2 out of 3 elder abuse victims are women.
• Those who have mental impairments are particularly vulnerable to abuse.
• Studies indicate approximately 50% of people with dementia are neglected or abused.
• Poor medical health has also been linked to higher abuse rates.
• According to a 2009 study, 1.6% of all older adults report some form of physical mistreatment each year.
• Social isolation is another factor that can increase abuse rates.
• Individuals who have been abused or experienced traumatic events in the past are more likely to be victims of abuse again in the future.
• Researchers have also found a link between lower socioeconomic status and elder abuse.
• Individuals over 65 years old are 34% more likely to be victims of financial fraud compared to those in their 40s.

Who Does The Abusing?

• Family members are responsible for as many as 90% of all elder abuse cases.
• Spouses and adult children are the most likely individuals to commit elder abuse, and are responsible for two-thirds of all reported cases.
• Friends and neighbors are the next most likely individuals to abuse elders, followed by in-home care aides.
• Despite the seemingly low rate of occurrence, over 50% of nursing home staff have confidentially admitted to some form of abuse.
• More recent studies suggest that residents in nursing homes are more likely to be abused by other residents than by staff members.
• Mental illness and substance abuse are risk factors for abusers.
• Lack of support, resources or caregiving education can also lead to abuse, especially from people who feel overwhelmed or resentful.
• Individuals with a history of being abused are more likely to become abusers.
• People who are dependent on elders, emotionally or financially, are also more likely to become abusers.

Environments That Can Lead To Abuse

While abuse can happen anywhere to anyone, some environmental factors can increase the likelihood of abuse taking place.

Environments that can foster abuse include:

• Communities that allow aggressive behavior
• Societies that encourage individuals to suffer in silence or care for others without outside help
• Cultures that have negative or disrespectful attitudes towards the elderly and aging

Nursing homes and elder care facilities can also facilitate environments that create a higher risk of elder abuse. For example, ongoing understaffing causes employee stress, burnout and resentment that can lead to abuse and neglect. Ineffective administration and policies can allow abuses to go unreported. Also, negative employee attitudes can foster unsympathetic environments for residents.

Staying Safe

Researchers in Minnesota and Ohio conducted a joint study of 1,000 nursing homes to rank satisfaction levels. They surveyed families of people living in nursing homes.

According to the report, nursing homes with the highest satisfaction ratings among families reported:

• Higher numbers of nurses and qualified staff members
• Smaller facilities with higher occupancy rates
• Facilities not owned by for-profit companies or chains

It is important to choose nursing homes that not only fits your budget but can provide the safest and happiest environment possible for yourself or a loved one.

Preventing Elder Abuse

An elder can help prevent abuse with a few simple steps:

• Use a living will or power of attorney to stay in control of your health.
• Review your will regularly to ensure it accurately reflects your wishes.
• Maintain a strong social life with numerous people and stay active in the community.
• Seek help for any addiction, mental health condition or instance of domestic violence.
• Manage your own finances and mail as much as possible.
• Direct deposit your own checks.
• Keep a personal phone and try not to make payments over the phone or at the door.
• If you have to make a payment over the phone or at your door, tell the person you will contact them when you are ready, then independently verify the organization and their contact information on your own.
• Maintain good health by looking after your body.
• Stay educated on elder abuse and methods to prevent it.

Nursing Home Abuse

• There are more than 1.7 million licensed beds in 15,600 nursing homes in the U.S.
• 69.8% of these nursing homes are for-profit businesses, with the goal of making money.
• Surprisingly few studies have been done on elder abuse rates in nursing homes.
• In 2013, a total of 5.1% of nursing home complaints were for neglect, abuse or exploitation.

Preventing Abuse In Nursing Homes

• Ensure adequate staffing levels exist to maintain quality of care and treatments.
• Form and enforce procedures and standards of care that are clear and compassionate.
• Train all staff on neglect and elder abuse with ongoing retraining.
• Ensure monitoring systems are in place.
• Educate individuals on the use of power of attorney.
• Encourage strong support networks with frequent visitors.
• Allow individuals access to community resources and services.
• Help elders build a community with numerous social relationships.
• Develop multidisciplinary teams to intervene and address elder abuse problems.
• Follow APS guidelines and suggestions for minimizing and preventing elder abuse.

Problems Resulting From Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can result in physical, mental, emotional and financial problems.

• Abused elders are 300% more likely to die than individuals who have not been abused.
• Violent crime injuries are responsible for $5.3 billion in annual medical care costs.
• Losses of $2.9 billion per year have been linked to financial elder abuse.
• Individuals with mental impairments tend to have 2 times the amount of financial loss.
• Hospitalization is three times as likely to occur if an elder is abused.
• Abuse can also lead to future disabilities and medical issues.
• Elders who have been abused are 4 times more likely to end up in a nursing home.

What To Do If You or Someone You Know Is Being Abused

• Report the abuse to Adult Protective Services in your state or notify the police.
• Tell someone you trust.
• If the abuse continues, tell someone else.
• Keep a hidden record of the abuses if you are able to.
• Seek justice—share your story with the Nursing Home Abuse Justice team today by calling 855-235-0768 or sending an email to contact@nursinghomeabuse.org.

Always Report All Elder Abuse

Reporting abuses can ensure they do not happen again.

• Call 911 to report any life-threatening emergencies.
• Contact the Adult Protective Services office to report suspected abuse.
• Report abuse to the police.
• Report abuse to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
• Find more resources by calling the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

You deserve justice. Get a free legal case review now.

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