How to Identify an Abusive Caregiver for Seniors

The elderly need understanding care.

As people age, they begin to need extra care and help in daily activities. The care they need requires a patient and understanding person, perhaps a nurse or family member willing to help the elderly. Sadly, some people who volunteer or enter into the area of elder care are not understanding. These people may become abusive, and caring relatives will need to understand the signs of an abusive caregiver. There are signs for the diligent eye to observe.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Time with the elderly
• Attention to detail

1. Listen to the elderly person. This is often the first step toward identifying an abuser. If an elderly person is claiming abuse, dig deeper and ask more questions. Ask for exact details. The person may just be angry and complaining, but take every accusation of abuse seriously and investigate further.

2. Speak with the caregiver. Does the caregiver seem overly stressed by her duties? Does he complain about the elderly for which he cares? Negative attitudes carry over into care and will bring the level of care to an unacceptable level.

3. Review the elderly person's bank account, if they will allow it. Financial abuse is a large part of elder abuse, and can happen independently of physical or emotional abuse. Look for unexplained, unusual or large purchases. Search for amounts of money being withdrawn or moved, and ask the elderly why the money was moved.

4. Attend care sessions or visit the nursing home often. If a relative is caring for the elderly, visit the home often and observe the interaction between caregiver and the elderly. If the person is in a nursing home, listen to the nurses and observe their interactions with the patients. Look for signs of abuse, such as high stress levels, low levels of patience or other signs of cruelty toward the elderly person.

5. Observe the elderly person. Signs of abuse include unexplained bruising, broken bones or sudden personality changes. If any abuse signs appear, talk to the elderly person and observe the relationship between caregiver and elderly closely.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when accusing a caregiver of abuse. Be absolutely certain the abuse is happening, and use the counsel of the nursing home or other relatives before reporting abuse.

References

• National Center On Elder Abuse: Preventing Elder Abuse by Family Caregivers
• Webster University: Potential Indicators of Abuse
• University of Maine: 2006: Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation