Types of Elder Abuse

What Are the Common Types of Elder Abuse?

There are several types of elder abuse that affect older adults nationwide. Some types of elder abuse don’t leave visible injuries, meaning the harm can go unnoticed for months or even years.

These are the types of elder abuse that you should watch for:

• Confinement
• Elder neglect
• Emotional abuse
• Financial abuse
• Physical elder abuse
• Self-neglect
• Sexual elder abuse

Home Healthcare Now found that 1 in 5 elderly people experienced at least one of the elder abuse types in 2020.

Some types of elder abuse are harder to spot than others. The most important thing is acting quickly when abuse occurs by reporting it to care facility coordinators or state authorities, like your state’s long-term care ombudsman.

You may also qualify for an elder abuse types lawsuit. Her Case Matters team members are ready to listen to your concerns and provide support.

Get your free case review now.

Confinement

Confinement is a type of elder abuse that happens when someone isolates or restrains an older person for anything other than authorized medical purposes. It may cause mental and physical health issues, especially if it happens repeatedly.

Some examples of elder confinement include:

• Locking an elderly person alone in a room or closet
• Overmedicating an older person with antipsychotics or sedatives to force compliance
• Removing someone’s mobility aids, like a wheelchair, walker, or crutches
• Restraining an older adult with ropes, ties, or other restraints
• Separating an elderly person from social activities, friends, or family

While medical professionals are allowed to restrain a patient for their own safety or the protection of others, other forms of confinement could count as elder abuse. Even if there are no physical injuries, the victim can suffer mental health effects like anxiety or depression.

Elder Neglect

Elder neglect happens when caregivers fail to provide for older adults, leading to worsening health issues or new complications that have lasting effects.

Caregivers might neglect an elderly person by skipping routine nursing home care responsibilities or not showing up for their home care shifts. Relatives may have a harder time recognizing elder neglect until their loved one is clearly suffering.

Here are some signs of elder neglect:

• Dehydration
• Dirty living conditions
• Missed medications
• Poor hygiene
• Unchanged clothing
• Weight loss

If you’ve noticed similar signs in your loved one, Her Case Matters may be able to help.

Call us at (877) 814-3168 to ask questions about elder abuse types and take action.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse includes verbal and psychological mistreatment. The long-term effects can worsen an older person’s mental health, even convincing them that they can’t or shouldn’t ask for help.

People can emotionally abuse an elderly person by:

• Belittling
• Bullying
• Cursing
• Humiliating
• Manipulating
• Name calling
• Shouting
• Threating

Frontiers in Public Health found that distress from psychological abuse is more common for elderly people in domestic settings. If you watch in-home caretakers and nursing home staff for these signs of emotional abuse, you can better protect your loved ones.

Financial Abuse

Financial elder abuse affects 1 in 20 older adults and can happen to people of any economic background. While some perpetrators scam strangers and steal their savings, family members, friends, and caregivers can also financially abuse those in their care.

Financial abuse may include:

• Forcing changes to a person’s will
• Gaining a person’s trust to steal their assets or savings
• Making someone spend or withdraw money
• Manipulating someone into financial transactions
• Taking control of an elderly person’s assets

The Medicare Rights Organization estimates that elderly people lose an estimated $2.9 billion to $36.5 billion annually to financial abuse.

Older adults living with dementia or cognitive impairments may face an increased risk of financial abuse because they are more vulnerable to manipulation or scams.

If left unchecked, financial abuse can have long-lasting consequences, affecting an older adult’s financial security, housing stability, and ability to access health care.

Filing an elder abuse lawsuit could help your loved one seek compensation and restore their losses. Contact us today to see if you qualify.

Physical Elder Abuse

Physical elder abuse occurs when an older adult is intentionally harmed through the use of force or violence. The abuse can cause subtle or severe injuries, depending on the situation.

These are some examples of physical elder abuse:

• Hitting
• Improperly using physical or chemical restraints
• Kicking
• Physically intimidating
• Punching
• Pushing
• Shoving
• Slapping

Physical elder abuse can result in bruises, burns, cuts, broken bones, and wounds. Family members may notice recurring injuries or explanations that do not match the severity of an injury.

Older people are at risk of physical abuse in private homes, assisted living communities, nursing homes, and other care settings. Trust your gut if something doesn’t look or feel right.

Self-Neglect

Self-neglect differs from other elder abuse types because it does not involve another person directly causing harm. Instead, self-neglect occurs when an older adult is unable or unwilling to meet their own basic needs.

Self-neglect may result in:

• Failure to take medications
• Inadequate nutrition
• Poor personal hygiene
• Unsafe living conditions
• Untreated health problems

Self-neglect is often associated with dementia, mental health conditions, disabilities, social isolation, or other circumstances that make it difficult for an older adult to care for themselves.

In many situations, intervention and support services may help reduce the risk of self-neglect by improving a person’s quality of life.

Sexual Elder Abuse

Sexual abuse of older adults involves any form of nonconsensual sexual contact, activity, or behavior. Elderly people with cognitive conditions like dementia or physical impairments may be at a higher risk because they’re more vulnerable.

Sexual assault of the elderly can include:

• Coercion or manipulation into sexual activities
• Exposure to sexually explicit materials without consent
• Sexual acts while the older adult is unconscious
• Unwanted touching
• Other forms of non-consensual sexual contact

Elder sexual abuse can happen in long-term care facilities, private homes, and medical settings. Older people may experience medical sexual assault during inappropriate physical exams or other forms of nonconsensual genital touching.

Many people incorrectly assume older adults are not at risk for sexual abuse. In reality, women and men can experience sexual abuse at any age, particularly when they depend on others for care or assistance.

If your loved one has been sexually assaulted by a care facility staff member, visitor, resident, or health care provider, you may be able to file an elder sexual abuse lawsuit.

What Should You Do if You Notice Types of Elder Abuse?

When you think you’ve seen any of the types of abuse in an elderly care setting, don’t wait to take action. Report it immediately to help prevent potential mistreatment.

Here are steps you can take after noticing elder abuse types:

1. Contact law enforcement if your loved one is in immediate danger.
2. Document injuries, behavior changes, or health conditions and save all of the evidence that you can find.
3. Speak with someone in charge of the care facility or your loved one’s health care providers, depending on where the elder abuse types may be happening.
4. Report your concerns to your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which can mediate issues in care facilities or nursing homes.
5. Call your state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) branch to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
6. Seek legal guidance to pursue accountability with an elder abuse lawsuit.

Taking action early may help protect your loved one from further types of elder abuse and connect them with better support services. You don’t have to have proof of abuse to report your concerns.

What Happens When You Report Types of Elder Abuse?

After you report potential types of elder abuse, the next steps depend on where you file your complaint. However, those in charge of the reporting process should take your concerns seriously, keep your identity confidential if requested, and start a formal investigation.

Many families worry about retaliation if they report types of elder abuse while their loved one is living in a nursing home. The resident rights established in the Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987 guarantee the right to complain without the fear of reprisal, so your loved one’s quality of care shouldn’t change.

Her Case Matters connects people with attorneys who pursue justice and negotiate elder abuse settlements. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re interested in taking legal action.

How to File a Lawsuit for Elder Abuse Types

People file elder abuse lawsuits when their loved ones have suffered from any elder abuse types. Even if you feel uncertain, our team is standing by to help you figure out your next steps.

Here’s what the elder abuse lawsuit process looks like:

1. Get a free case review: Talk to us about your concerns and see if you’re eligible to seek compensation.
2. Collect evidence: Your elder abuse lawyer will gather evidence to strengthen your case, which may include medical records and facility documentation.
3. File your elder abuse lawsuit: Your elder abuse attorney will file your lawsuit in the proper courts before your state’s filing deadline passes.
4. Rest and wait: Take care of your loved one while your lawyer negotiates compensation or represents you in court if the other party won’t settle.

Our partner law firm has recovered $10.5 Billion to date for victims of injustice, including those who have experienced different types of elder abuse.

You aren’t alone in navigating the reporting process or the impacts of elder abuse. Civil lawsuit settlements help families move their loved ones to new long-term facilities, pay medical bills, or afford funeral costs.

Talk with our team today to see if we can help.

Take Action for Elder Abuse Types

If you suspect that your loved one may be experiencing one of the elder abuse types, take action quickly. Report your concerns to the facility’s administrators, local law enforcement, or state agencies that handle elder abuse, like APS.

At Her Case Matters, we believe older adults deserve dignity, safety, and respect. We’re here if you want to learn how to take legal action after spotting the types of elder abuse.

Get a free case review now or call (877) 814-3168 to take the first step today.