Social Work

Direct Study

What is Considered Elder

Abuse?
Elder abuse is any form of mistreatment that results in
harm or loss to an older person. It is generally divided into
the following categories: Physical abuse is physical force
that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment (NCPEA,
2008).

Who Are The Abusers?

Abusers of the elderly are usually individuals that the

older adult trust, such as family members or a caretaker.

Types of abuse:
Mental
Emotional
Physical
Financial

Elder abuse by children

ranks the highest among
family abusers.
Elder Abuse
Spousal abuse usually
occurs when the spouse is
improperly trained to deal
with an aging partner and
the stress that come
along with caring for the
elder individual.

What Are The Signs of Elder

Abuse?
Unexplained Bruises
Not taking medications, because the medications are being withheld or stolen

for personal use.

Malnourishment
Transfer of property
Poor hygiene
Psychological abuse, which usually shows in psychological outcomes such as
apathy, depression, and fearfulness.

Cohen, M., Levin, S., Gagin, R., & Friedman, G. (2007)

What are the ways elder abuse

is identified?
The tools can be clustered into three groups The first is direct questioning of the older person, aimed at eliciting disclosure of abusive

behaviors by caregivers or others

Screening and assessment tools of the second group check for evident signs of different
kinds of abuse
The aim of the third group of screening and assessment tools is the identification of risk
factors. The rationale is that many of those at high risk are actually abused. Risk factors
are inherent in the demographic, psychological, cognitive, and social characteristics of
elderly persons and of their family members or in the kind of living arrangements.
The Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (H-S/EAST),19 which directly probes
for abuse or violation of personal rights and potentially abusive situations.
Cohen, M., Levin, S., Gagin, R., & Friedman, G. (2007)

What Programs Are In Place to

Assist The Abused?

Mental health services

Legal aid services
Counseling
Domestic violence
Case management
Supportive services
Victim witness assistance program

Is There A Difference in African

Americans And Other Races Abuse?
Wealthy or Caucasian abusers will spend their parents money.
Caucasians will place elder individuals in an assisted living environment.
Refusal of medical treatment that would lead to further declining of the
individuals health, and possible death to inherit the individuals finances.
African American or low income abusers will misuse the individuals
finances to fund their addictions.
Misuse of the elderly individuals finances usually results in cancellation of
home or car insurance, default of utility bills or termination of services.
Mismanagement of medications.

Help End Elder Abuse

Resources
Cohen, M., Levin, S., Gagin, R., & Friedman, G. (2007).
Elder Abuse: Disparities Between Older People's
Disclosure of Abuse, Evident Signs of Abuse, and High
Risk of Abuse. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,
1224-1230.

Preventing The Abuse of Elders. (2008). Retrieved June

10, 2015, from
http://www.preventelderabuse.org/elderabuse/help/help2.
html