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Abuse, Elder
Alternate Names : Elder Abuse, Institutional Abuse, Domestic Abuse
What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?
Elder abuse takes many forms. It may leave visible injuries,
such as cuts and bruises, or less visible emotional scars. Signs and
symptoms of mistreatment vary with the type of abuse.
With physical abuse, a person may have:
broken bones, sprains, or dislocations
broken eyeglasses
bruises, black eyes, cuts, and rope marks
open wounds, cuts, punctures, or untreated injuries in various stages
of healing
internal injuries
sudden changes in behavior
Other changes one might see with physical abuse include:
lab findings of a medicine overdose
a caregiver who refuses to let visitors see an elder alone
reports from the elder of being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated
With emotional abuse, a person may:
be emotionally upset or agitated
be very withdrawn, not talkative, or not responsive
behave in unusual ways, such as by sucking, biting, and rocking
report being verbally or emotionally mistreated
With financial abuse, there may be:
a sudden change in a bank account
cashing an elder's checks without permission
new names added to the elder's bank signature card
unauthorized withdrawal of the elder's funds using an ATM card
changes in a will or other financial document
unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions
unpaid bills despite available funds
the elder's report of financial exploitation
With neglect, a person may:
have signs of dehydration,
malnutrition, or untreated health
problems
have bedsores
have poor personal hygiene
be living in conditions that are not safe, sanitary, or clean
wear inappropriate or inadequate clothing
lose weight
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Author: Gail Hendrickson, RN, BS
Reviewer: Karen Preston, PHN, MS, CRRN
Date Reviewed: 09/04/01
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