Recognizing Elder Abuse

• Possible indicators of Physical Abuse
  • Cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds
  • Bruises, welts, discoloration
  • Any injury incompatible with history
  • Any injury which has not been properly cared for (injuries are sometimes hidden on areas of the body normally covered by clothing)
  • Poor skin condition or poor skin hygiene
  • Absence of hair and/or hemorrhaging below scalp
  • Dehydration and/or malnourished without illness-related cause
  • Loss of weight
  • Burns: may be caused by cigarttes, caustics, acids, friction from ropes or chains, or contact with other objects
  • Soiled clothing or bed

• Possible indicators of Psychological/Emotional Abuse

  Helplessness Hesitation to talk openly Implausible stories Confusion or disorientation Anger

  Fear Withdrawal Depression Denial Agitation

• Possible indicators of Financial Abuse
  • Unusual or inappropriate activity in bank accounts
  • Signatures on checks, etc., that do not resemble the older person's signature, or signed when older person cannot write
  • Power of attorney given, or recent changes or creation of will, when the person is incapable of making such decisions
  • Unusual concern by caregiver that an excessive amount of money is being expended on the care of the older person
  • Numerous unpaid bills, overdue rent, when someone is supposed to be paying the bills for a dependent elder
  • Placement in nursing home or residential care facility which is not commensurate with alleged size of estate
  • Lack of amenities, such as TV, personal grooming items, appropriate clothing, that the estate can well afford
  • Missing personal belongings such as art, silverware, or jewelry
  • Deliberate isolation, by a housekeeper, of an older adult from friends and family, resulting in the caregiver alone having total control

• Possible indicators of Neglect by Caregiver
  • Dirt, fecal/urine smell, or other health and safety hazards in elder's living envrionment.
  • Rashes, sores, lice on elder
  • Elder is inadequately clothed
  • Elder is malnourished or dehydrated
  • Elder has an untreated medical condition

• Possible indicators of Self-Neglect
  • Inability to manage personal finances, e.g. hoarding, squandering, giving money away or failure to pay bills
  • Inability to manage activities of daily living, including personal care, shopping, meal preparation, housework, etc.
  • Suicidal acts, wanderings, refusing medical attention, isolation, substance abuse
  • Lack of toilet facilities, utilities or animal infested living quarters (dangerous condistions)
  • Rashes, sores, fecal/urine smell, inadequate clothing, malnourished, dehydartion, etc.
  • Changes in intellectual functioning, e.g. confusion, inappropriate or no response, disorientation to time and place, memory failure, incoherence, etc.
  • Not keeping medical appoints for serious illness

• Possible indicators of Abuse from the Caregiver
  • The elder may not be given the opportunity to speak for him or herself, or see others, without the presence of hte caregiver (suspected abuser)
  • Attitudes of indefference or anger toward the dependent person, or hte obvious absence of assistance
  • Family memmber or caregiver blames the elder (e.g. accusation that incontinence is a deliberate act)
  • Aggressive behavior (threats, insults, harassment) by caregiver towared the elder
  • Previous history of abuse ot others
  • Problems with alcohol or drugs
  • Inappropriate display of affection by the caregiver
  • Flirtations, coyness, etc as possible indicators of inaappropriate sexual relationship
  • Social isolation of family, or isolation or restriction of activity of hte older adult within the family unit byt he caregiver
  • Conflicting accounts of incidents by family, supporters, or vitim
  • Unwillingness or relluctance byt he caregiver to comply with service providers in planning for care an implementation
  • Inappropriate or unwarrented defensiveneess by caregiver

Elder Abuse Prevention

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

39662 hits since since my counter broke

This page was last modified Wednesday, 07-Jan-2004 15:24:20 PST