How to Recognize Financial & Verbal Abuse of Elders

The subject makes the newspapers, TV and web broadcasts infrequently, if at all: Serious cases of elder abuse perpetrated by caregivers, nursing home workers and most disturbingly, family members. Every year, between 500,000 and one million cases of elder abuse are reported, and experts say this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you're in a position to do something about a suspected case of elder abuse, investigate your suspicions. You might save someone's life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Understand the variety of senior abuse categories that fall under the umbrella of non-physical types. They include bullying, intimidation, financial swindling, intentional neglect, psychological threats and verbal harassment.

2. Look for behavior or personality changes that are not byproducts of of dementia, including signs of threats, humiliation, bullying or ridicule. Question the possibility of verbal abuse if you suspect a senior is being ignored, isolated, menaced or terrorized.

3. Follow your hunch if you suspect that a senior is habitually being abandoned or neglected. Some indicators are: hygiene issues, malnutrition, bedsores, unexplained weight loss, dehydration and unsanitary surroundings.

4. Look for signs of sexual abuse. Showing an unwilling senior pornography, forcing them to watch sexual acts or removing clothing for non-medical reasons, accompanied by verbal assaults, may be hidden, but can be unearthed by looking for bruised sexual organs, STDs and other infections.

5. Double check suspicious credit card bills, peruse bank accounts for questionable withdrawals and look into suspect purchases that may signal duress. If signs point to signature forging or theft, act immediately to prevent potential financial ruin.

6. Investigate Medicare irregularities, the most common of which are billing for services not administered, double billing, overcharging or getting kickbacks from vendors. Watch for charges for drugs not prescribed for the senior.

Tips & Warnings

• Experts believe that where one type of elder abuse exists, others are likely to be found, so continue your inquiry if you suspect verbal abuse. Also look for bruising, sprains, contusions, unexplained injuries or broken bones related to physical trauma. Abused elders tend to be fearful of abusers threatening bodily harm if illegal acts are reported. If you suspect this, either because the caregiver refuses to leave you alone with the senior or because the elder won't address your suspicions, err on the side of caution and contact local law enforcement authorities. For every case of elder abuse reported, 12 or 13 aren't, so follow your hunch. Call the National Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 to find help. The service is available from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., EST.

Resources

• Visit the government's website for more information
• Learn about the legal aspects of elder abuse
• Search the U.S. Administration on Aging for more elder abuse data

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