What Are the Various Types of Elder Abuse?

By  //  October 14, 2020

The vast majority of people want to take care of their relatives when they get older. Because parents take care of children when they are young, many children want to take care of their parents when they get older. At the same time, there are situations when this might not be possible.

In some cases, children might not live geographically close to their parents, making this a challenge. And other situations, parents might have chronic medical conditions that require expert care.

In this situation, it is a good idea to rely on nursing homes that provide the adequate resources to take care of loved ones.

Even though the vast majority of nursing homes provide exceptional care, there are situations where elder abuse can take place. Therefore, it is important to keep a few important points in mind when it comes to elder abuse.

For anyone who has suffered elder abuse, it is a good idea to rely on an experienced attorney for help.

What Are the Statistics on Elder Abuse? Unfortunately, elder abuse is much more common than many people realize. According to statistics that have been published:

■ Approximately 10 percent of all elderly individuals in the United States have experienced elder abuse in some way, shape, or form

■ As many as 5 million elderly individuals in this country suffer elder abuse on an annual basis

■ Less than 10 percent of all cases of elder abuse are actually reported to the proper authorities

These statistics are absolutely heartbreaking. It is important for everyone to know how to spot the signs of elder abuse so they can get help as quickly as possible.

Neglect Is a Common Type of Elder Abuse

One of the most common types of elder abuse and neglect. Similar to children, elderly individuals often rely on others to take care of them. This might include rotating them in bed, bathing them, and providing them with food.

When families are relying on nursing homes to take care of their elderly loved one, then they expect the nursing home to attend to the needs of their family members. Sometimes, elders could go days without food.

They might not be rotated in bed, leading to bedsores. Sometimes, nursing home employees will even intentionally withhold someone’s medications in order to force them to do some time. These are all examples of neglect and it should not be tolerated. This is one of the most frequently encountered types of elder abuse.

Financial, Physical, and Sexual Abuse Are Also Possible

At the same time, there are other forms of elder abuse as well. Some of the other examples include:

■ Physical abuse of Elders includes inflicting intentional physical injuries or pain upon an older adult

■ Financial abuse means taking advantage of an elderly individual’s compromised mental state to steal from their financial accounts

■ There are even cases of sexual abuse of elders involving touching, intercourse, or fondling

Nobody should ever have to be subjected to these forms of abuse. The good news is that there are trained professionals who are willing to help.

Nobody Should Have To Worry About Their Loved Ones Being Abused

When families have to place their loved ones in a nursing home, this is always a difficult decision. No family should ever have to worry about their loved one being abused in a nursing home.

Instead, these nursing homes should provide the expert medical care that families expect. When they fall short, they should be held accountable. Anyone who feels like their loved one has been the victim of elder abuse should reach out to trained professionals for a helping hand.