Caregiving Signs of Elder Abuse 6/24/2022 | By Seniors Guide Staff Know the signs of elder abuse so you can protect your loved one from physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, health care fraud, and financial exploitation. And just as important, know how to report the abuse, to protect your loved one and potentially to protect other vulnerable people. Elderly individuals face the risk of being abused in their home, a relative’s home, or a nursing care facility. Many of these cases are never noticed – or never reported. And because older adults become frailer as they age, they cannot stand up to the bullying or the verbal and physical attacks accompanying it. Their declining abilities to see and hear also provide opportunities for others to take advantage of them, financially as well as physically. By knowing the signs of elder abuse, you can help make sure this doesn’t happen to your loved one. Always be alert Most nursing facilities and home care workers are reputable, kind, and ethical. However, managers may not be aware of every time a worker steps over a line into abuse. In fact, Nursing Home Abuse Justice reports that 66% of nursing home staff members admitted to abusing residents in a 2020 study from the World Health Organization. Family members and supervisors don’t always take nursing home abuse seriously, as they may pass the person’s bruises or complaints off to dementia or other age-related mental deterioration. However, even though signs of elder abuse and dementia can overlap at times, every sign should be thoroughly investigated. If you have a loved one in a potentially harmful or negligent situation, be aware of the following signs indicating abuse. Then you can take steps to ensure their proper care and safety in the future. Typical signs of elder abuse If you notice changes in their personality and behavior, or you see a conflict between the senior and caregiver, you are right to suspect nursing home abuse or other caregiver abuse. Physical abuse Bruising, scars, or welts on their bodyUnexplained broken bones or dislocationsSigns of restraint, such as rope marks on the wrists or anklesBroken eyeglassesThe caregiver refuses to allow you to be alone with the elderly person Emotional abuse Caregiver using demeaning, threatening, or controlling behavior toward your loved oneUnusual behavior in the older adult, such as mumbling, thumb-sucking, or rockingThe senior shows signs of fearing the caregiver Sexual abuse Bruising around the genitals or breastsVaginal or anal bleeding not related to a medical conditionUnexplained STDs or other genital infectionsBloody or stained underwear Neglect Leaving the older person unattended in publicThe client being unsuitably dressed for the weatherThe older person regularly being dirty or unbathedSoiled bed clothing or dirty conditionsBedsores from the lack of regular turningUnusual weight loss or dehydration Financial exploitation Unexplained changes in the senior’s finances, including credit scoreWithdrawals from the patient’s bank accountsChanges in a will, power of attorney, life insurance beneficiaries, or property titlesCash or other valuables missing from the senior’s room or householdNames added to the elder’s credit cardsATM withdrawals from a bedridden senior’s bank accountUnusual goods, services, or subscriptions the elder would not have purchased Related: Protecting seniors from scams Health care fraud Duplicate bills for the same services or devicesA bill for healthcare that was never providedA lack of adequate staff trainingNot enough staff to care for the patientsEvidence of too little or too much medicationEvidence of poor care, even when the services have been paid in full Causes and risk factors for elder abuse Even when a caregiver is paid by and works for a nursing facility or home care agency, they can be under stress, including financial stress, leading to elder abuse. A shortage of staff members at nursing facilities can result in caregivers having too much responsibility, causing additional pressure. Other causes include lack of proper training, deficient work environments, or unsuitable caregivers to look after the patients. Some elderly patients in nursing homes have multiple medical conditions and are completely dependent on others for their care. If the patient’s demands are difficult to manage and caregivers cannot always meet them, the stress level increases, and the older adult could be at greater risk. If you observe any of the signs of elder abuse, report it immediately. Related: Signs of self-neglect in a senior adult How to report signs of elder abuse Nursing home abuse is serious. And it often gets worse and sometimes turns deadly. When appropriate, begin by contacting senior management of the home health care agency, nursing care facility, or other organization. If necessary, you can stop elder abuse in its tracks by reporting it to one of the many local, state, and national agencies. If you believe your elderly loved one is in immediate danger, dial 911 to report the abuse. Find more information on your best actions using the following resources: The U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesEldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging. Click on the website link or call 1-800-677-1116Administration for Community LivingElder JusticeThe National Center on Elder Abuse state resources listing, a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community LivingEnter “reporting elder abuse” in an internet search engine for more state resourcesDoctors and other medical personnel When you report suspected abuse, you are opening an investigation into that senior’s well-being – and potentially sparing further abuse. You could even hold nursing facilities legally responsible if they harmed your loved one. Article updated on June 24, 2022, with more resources and other updated information. Read More Seniors Guide Staff Seniors Guide has been addressing traditional topics and upcoming trends in the senior living industry since 1999. We strive to educate seniors and their loved ones in an approachable manner, and aim to provide them with the right information to make the best decisions possible.