How to Identify Signs of Elder Abuse

A common issue, elder abuse, is all too often under documented. The National Council on Aging actually estimates that just roughly one in twenty-four occurrences of elder abuse get reported to the police. 

More worrisome still are those who commit elder abuse; these include family members, including a spouse or a child, as well as caretakers, like doctors and nurses, who you would not suspect. Knowing how to spot elder abuse is vitally vital, given this sad fact, in order for you to report it appropriately. Find out which five most often occurring forms of elder abuse are.

Neglect and Abandonment

Neglect is the inability to meet the fundamental requirements for life—food, drink, shelter, cleanliness, and necessary medical treatment. Abandonment, then, is the desertion of a vulnerable adult by someone assuming care or custody of that individual. It usually coexists with neglect or other kinds of mistreatment. 

An example of neglect in nursing homes is a nursing facility that deviates from recommended medicine dosages for a resident. Neglect should be reported for seniors who lack the help required for bathing or bathroom usage. 

One person caregiver or a system-wide failure of the nursing home to offer basic care for its inhabitants can lead to neglect or abandonment. Many times, these mistakes are inadvertent and the outcome of a lack of resources, understaffing, or neglect by the nursing home facility staff.

Medical Abuse

The healthcare staff abuses its field of expertise. A loved one’s assigned nurse or doctor could subject them to more tests and treatments than is medically required. They could also be recommended more drugs than is medically required.

Medical abuse could be overcharging or twice billing your loved one’s health insurance plan for surgery. One can find it difficult to detect this kind of abuse. Review the drugs your loved one takes with their medical staff and talk about their efficacy.

Talk also about the medical treatments your loved one has undergone and go over their medical records. Should you believe there is healthcare abuse, you could look for direction from the National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association. 

Personal Hygiene Neglect

Regular bathing, dental hygiene, and personal grooming are rights of nursing home residents. If they are unable to perform these tasks on their own, they are entitled to help. In order to maintain hygiene and respect standards, incontinent residents are entitled to routine changes to their incontinence aids. 

In addition to the fact that their loved one has been sitting in a damp wheelchair for what feels like days, family members often complain that their loved one has not showered, had their dentures cleaned, or had their hair cut. These circumstances also compromise their right to be treated with respect and dignity and may even be considered neglect.

Behavioral Changes

People living with diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia will often experience mood swings and different desired socializing levels. This has to be taken into account while assessing their actions. Having said that, an abrupt behavioral change, such as self-isolation or agitation, may point to trauma.  

Patients subjected to inadequate treatment or physical violence will often retreat into themselves and develop anxiety, depression, or anger. While some mistreated residents grow more shy, others may get hostile.

If you suspect that your loved one may be a victim of abuse, contact Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, and an elder abuse attorney. They can help ensure their safety and provide the support they need to live comfortably in their golden years.