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Is It Elder Abuse?

Abuse isn’t happening just to toddlers and young children, but is becoming more common among the senior citizens in this country. Unable to take care of themselves, they must rely on a professional or family caregiver to help them from day to day. If you have a loved one who must depend on care from someone other than yourself, you may want to know the tell-tale signs of the many forms of abuse that they may be afflicted with. 
 
Sometimes, an elder may report an incident of physical abuse; however, they often won’t, so you’ll need to look for other behavioral and emotional signs, like depression or withdrawal from family and friends, changes in behavior, i.e., mood swings or appearing frightened and teary eyed. Sometimes, the abusers themselves will give clues to possible abuse by their refusal to take the elder to the doctor when needed, by not allowing family and friends to see the abused person alone, by giving explanations which are found to be inconsistent with the abuse symptoms.  They may have bite marks and scratches themselves, from an elder fighting back.

Signs of physical abuse:

• Cuts, lacerations, welt marks (a possible sign of using restraints)

• Burn marks from cigarettes
  

• Malnutrition or dehydration

• Hair loss from someone grabbing/pulling hair
  

• Sores on the body, open wounds
  

• Weight gain or weight loss
  

• Poor skin conditions
  

• Unexplained injuries, such as fractures and breaks
  

• Bruises, scratches, bite marks, finger prints
  

• Frequent trips to the emergency room
  

• Black eyes, broken fingernails
  

• Over or under medicated

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