While the phrase “Respect Your Elders” echoes through generations, a different reality exists for many seniors. The National Center on Elder Abuse reports that 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of abuse annually, highlighting a critical issue demanding our attention. Combatting this statistic starts with one step: raising awareness.
Elder abuse manifests in various ways. Financial exploitation and verbal abuse are more prevalent, while physical abuse occurs less often. Seniors living alone may face additional challenges in reporting abuse. While caregiving can be demanding, it shouldn’t lead to family conflict. Occasional disagreements are normal, but humiliating, degrading, or threatening language towards a senior indicates a serious issue that needs immediate attention. To protect your loved ones, identifying the signs of elder abuse is key.
Signs to Watch For:
Verbal abuse toward seniors can be subtle. Witnessing someone repeatedly intimidating, degrading, or blaming an elder for accidents or misfortunes can be a red flag. Likewise, if a caregiver neglects a senior’s basic needs, that indicates mistreatment.
Financial exploitation often manifests in less obvious ways. Frequent, unreturned loans and unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts warrant investigation. While seniors have the right to spend their money freely, any negative influence from a new acquaintance or concerning change in their well-being needs attention.
Each case of elder abuse varies. If you suspect your loved one is being abused, acting on it as soon as possible makes it more likely to ensure their safety, security, and well-being.
How to Protect Your Loved One:
These steps make it easier to detect elder abuse:
- Talk with your loved one about how interacting with others makes them feel.
- Ask about any suspicious financial transactions or property “loans.”
- If your loved one has any “new friends,” meet them and talk with them, especially if they’re spending an unusual amount of time around your loved one.
- Seek a professional’s guidance. It’s better to be overly cautious than for an issue to get worse.
Taking Action
Several communities have counseling and intervention resources that assist in these cases. If you’re not sure where to start, speak with a physician first. Even if you don’t have an established relationship with them, they can point you in the right direction toward services within the community and guide you toward the best course of action.
