Elder abuse is physical or psychological mistreatment, neglect, or financial exploitation of older people. The most common types of elder abuse include physical and psychological abuse, neglect, and financial abuse. Each type can be intentional or unintentional. Polyvictimization (co-occurrence of multiple types of abuse) is common. Bullies are often adult children but can be other family members or paid or informal caregivers.
Physical abuse uses force, resulting in physical or psychological harm or discomfort. This includes hitting, pushing, shaking, hitting, restraining, force-feeding, and administering drugs against one’s will. This may include sexual violence (any form of sexual intimacy without consent or by force or threat of force).
Psychological abuse is using words, acts or other means to cause emotional stress or distress. This includes threats (e.g., institutionalization), insults, difficult commands, and remaining silent and ignoring the person. It also includes infantilization (a paternalistic form of ageism in which the author treats older people as a child), encouraging them to become dependent on the abuser.
Negligence is the failure or refusal to provide food, medicine, personal care, or other necessities; it also includes abandonment. Knowing the Difference Between Negligence and Malpractice, Neglect results in physical or psychological harm and is considered abuse. Financial abuse is the exploitation or neglect of an individual’s assets or funds. This includes cheating, pressuring a person to distribute goods, and irresponsibly managing one’s money.
Less than 20% of cases of abuse are reported, and only about 15% of older adults who experience abuse seek help from authorities or health professionals. Although the incidence is unclear, elder abuse appears to be a public health problem in the United States. 1 in 10 seniors are victims of physical, psychological, sexual violence, financial exploitation, or neglect. Worldwide, up to 1 in 6 non-institutionalized people ≥ 60 years old are victims of maltreatment ( 1 ); rates are higher in those living in long-term care facilities ( 2 ). About 12% of abuse victims in old age experience various types of violence ( 3). Elder abuse is associated with physical injuries, poor physical health, psychological harm, repeated hospitalization, financial ruin, and premature mortality.
Abuse typically becomes more frequent and severe over time. Reports of elder abuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; in addition, rates of physical and emotional abuse and instances of multiple types of abuse were significantly higher ( 4 ), possibly because of the greater vulnerability of victims and more stressors and triggers that affect abusers due to social isolation, financial difficulties, and poor mental health. Thus, clinicians must remain vigilant in identifying elderly patients at risk of maltreatment and provide appropriate referrals like Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm for example for intervention and counseling.