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Is It Elder Abuse?

As much as people don’t want to think about it, sexual abuse does occur among the elderly. It’s considered sexual abuse when something happens either without their consent or when an elderly person is incapable of making such a decision on their own. Physical signs of sexual abuse may include:

• Bruises around the breast or genital area

• Cuts or lacerations around the breast or genital area

• Clothes with blood stains or tear marks

• Soreness around breast, genital, or anal areas

• Difficulty with walking or sitting

Some older people may report sexual assault, while others may withdraw from family and friends, flinch at certain quick movements, or be frightened by the opposite gender. The abuser will usually have a story that will not match the physical or emotional evidence noted by family members, and they will generally not allow family or friends into the home or to be around the abused person alone.
 
Not all abuse can be seen with the naked eye. There’s also emotional and psychological abuse that occurs when a person is demeaning and dehumanizing to another person. Psychological and emotional abuse can also make someone withdraw into depression or even deny that anything bad is actually taking place. You may catch the abuser talking down to the person, calling them hurtful names, and begin to withdraw the elder from visiting with family and friends.

Behavioral signs of psychological abuse:

• Continuously emotionally upset or disturbed

• Nervous behavior and a repetition to their actions

• Negative attitude

• Agitation or anger: Rocking back and forth, sucking their thumb, or even biting (themselves or others)

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