Physical elder abuse is the
use of physical force that may result
in bodily injury, physical pain, or
impairment. Physical elder abuse may
include acts of violence like striking,
with or without an object, hitting,
beating, pushing, shoving, shaking,
slapping, kicking, pinching, and burning.
The inappropriate use of drugs and
physical restraints, force-feeding,
and physical punishment of any kind
also are examples of physical elder
abuse.
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Signs and symptoms of physical elder
abuse include but are not limited
to:
- bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations,
and rope marks
- bone fractures, broken bones,
and skull fractures
- open wounds, cuts, punctures,
untreated injuries in various stages
of healing
- sprains, dislocations, and internal
injuries/bleeding
- broken eyeglasses/frames, physical
signs of being subjected to punishment,
and signs of being restrained
- laboratory findings of medication
overdose or under utilization of
prescribed drugs
- a nursing home resident’s
report of being hit, slapped, kicked,
or mistreated
- nursing home resident’s sudden
change in behavior
- the nursing home worker’s
refusal to allow visitors to see
a nursing home resident alone
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Sexual elder abuse is defined as non-consensual
sexual contact of any kind with a
nursing home resident. Sexual contact
with any person incapable of giving
consent is also considered sexual
elder abuse. It includes but is not
limited to unwanted touching, all
types of sexual assault or battery,
such as rape, sodomy, coerced nudity,
and sexually explicit photographing.
Signs and symptoms of sexual elder
abuse include but are not limited
to:
- bruises around the breasts or
genital area
- unexplained venereal disease or
genital infections
- unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
- torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
- a nursing home resident’s
report of being sexually assaulted
or raped
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Emotional or psychological elder abuse
is defined as the infliction of anguish,
pain, or distress through verbal or
nonverbal acts. Emotional/psychological
elder abuse includes but is not limited
to verbal assaults, insults, threats,
intimidation, humiliation, and harassment.
In addition, treating a nursing home
resident like an infant; isolating
a nursing home resident from his/her
family, friends, or regular activities;
giving a resident the "silent
treatment;" and enforced social
isolation are examples of emotional/psychological
elder abuse.
Signs and symptoms of emotional/psychological
elder abuse include but are not limited
to:
- being emotionally upset or agitated
- being extremely withdrawn and
non communicative or non responsive
- unusual behavior usually attributed
to dementia (for example, sucking,
biting, rocking)
- a nursing home resident’s
report of being verbally or emotionally
mistreated
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Neglect is a type of elder abuse defined
as the refusal or failure to fulfill
any part of a worker's obligations
or duties to a nursing home resident.
Neglect and elder abuse in nursing
homes may also include the failure
to provide necessary care. Neglect
typically means the refusal or failure
to provide a nursing home resident
with such life necessities as food,
water, clothing, shelter, personal
hygiene, medicine, comfort, personal
safety, and other essentials included
in an implied or agreed-upon responsibility
to a resident.
Signs and symptoms of elder abuse
and neglect include but are not limited
to:
- dehydration, malnutrition, untreated
bedsores, and poor personal hygiene
- unattended or untreated health
problems
- hazardous or unsafe living condition/arrangements
(for example, improper wiring, no
heat, or no running water)
- unsanitary and unclean living
conditions (for example, dirt, fleas,
lice on person, soiled bedding,
fecal/urine smell, inadequate clothing)
- a nursing home resident’s
report of being mistreated
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Abandonment in the form of elder abuse
is the desertion of a nursing home
resident by a nursing home worker,
who has assumed responsibility for
providing care for the resident.
Signs and symptoms of abandonment
include but are not limited to:
- the desertion of a nursing home
resident
- the desertion of a nursing home
resident at a public location
- a nursing home resident’s
own report of being abandoned
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Financial or material exploitation
is the illegal or improper use of
a nursing home resident’s funds,
property, or assets. Examples of this
elder abuse include, but are not limited
to, cashing a nursing home resident’s
checks without authorization/permission;
forging a resident's signature; misusing
or stealing a resident’s money
or possessions; coercing or deceiving
a resident into signing any document
(contracts or will); and the improper
use of conservatorship, guardianship,
or power of attorney.
Signs and symptoms of financial or
material exploitation include but
are not limited to:
- sudden changes in bank account
or banking practice, including an
unexplained withdrawal of large
sums of money by a person accompanying
the nursing home resident
- the inclusion of additional names
on a nursing home resident’s
bank signature card
- unauthorized withdrawal of the
nursing home resident’s funds
using the resident's ATM card
- abrupt changes in a will or other
financial documents
- unexplained disappearance of funds
or valuable possessions
- substandard care being provided
or bills unpaid despite the availability
of adequate financial resources
- discovery of a nursing home resident’s
signature being forged for financial
transactions or for the titles of
his/her possessions
- sudden appearance of previously
uninvolved relatives claiming their
rights to a nursing home resident’s
affairs and possessions
- the provision of services that
are not necessary
- a nursing home resident’s
report of financial exploitation.
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Self-neglect is characterized as the
behavior of a nursing home resident
that threatens his/her own health
or safety. Self-neglect is elder abuse
that generally manifests itself in
a resident as a refusal or failure
to provide himself/herself with adequate
food, water, clothing, shelter, personal
hygiene, medication (when indicated),
and safety precautions. The definition
of self-neglect excludes a situation
in which a mentally competent nursing
home resident, who understands the
consequences of his/her decisions,
makes a conscious and voluntary decision
to engage in acts that threaten his/her
health or safety as a matter of personal
choice.
Signs and symptoms of self-neglect
include but are not limited to:
- dehydration, malnutrition, untreated
or improperly attended medical conditions,
and poor personal hygiene
- hazardous or unsafe living conditions/arrangements
(for example, improper wiring, no
indoor plumbing, no heat, no running
water)
- unsanitary or unclean living quarters
(for example, animal/insect infestation,
no functioning toilet, fecal/urine
smell)
- inappropriate and/or inadequate
clothing, lack of the necessary
medical aids (for example, eyeglasses,
hearing aids, dentures)
- grossly inadequate housing
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