TYPES OF ELDER ABUSE

Any act of violence or rough handling that may or may not result in physical injury but causes physical discomfort or pain. May include:

• Pushing, hitting, slapping or shaking

• Giving inappropriate medication(s)(quantity, type, etc.)

• Keeping a person confined 

  (for example: locked in a room; placed in a wheelchair)

Psychological/emotional abuse is any action, verbal or non-verbal that lessens a person’s sense of identity, dignity and self-worth. May include:

• Not meeting spiritual needs

  (i.e. not letting a person attend a place of worship)

• Name calling/humiliation

• Yelling

• Isolating a person from family and/or friends

• Threatening a person or their family, friends or pets

The illegal or unauthorized use of someone else’s money or property. It includes pressuring someone for money or property. May also include:

• Misuse of Power of Attorney

• Stealing or misusing money, cheques or property

• Pressuring a person to change a Will, or sell property, other assets or personal belongings

• Being pressured to loan money

• Fraud, forgery, or extortion

Any sexual behaviour directed toward an older adult without that person’s full knowledge and consent. May include:

• Coercing an older person through force, trickery, threats, or other means into unwanted sexual activity.

• Can be difficult to identify as embarrassment and shame may prevent the issue from being spoken about or reported.

Not meeting the basic needs of the older person. Can be broken down in to:

1. Active (intentional) neglect: the deliberate withholding of care or the basic necessities of life to an older adult whom they are caring.

2. Passive (unintentional) neglect: the failure to provide proper care to an older adult due to lack of knowledge, experience/ability or unaware of how to access local services.

May include:

• Failing to provide enough food, shelter, medical care, clothing, or physical aids (for example: hearing aids; glasses)

• Treating a person with silence or ignoring them

• Leaving a person alone without supervision (where supervision is required)

• Failing to keep a person safe