Abuse of seniors is a major societal issue. Abuse means an action, or deliberate behaviour, by a person (s) in a position of trust, such as an adult child, family member, friend or care giver, that causes an adult:  

• physical, emotional or mental harm; and/or
• damage to, or loss of, assets or property.

An older victim is often reluctant to seek help or report abuse because of:  

• expected recrimination from the abuser;
• concern about consequences to their adult child or family;
• fear of being placed in a care facility, or institution;
• fear of having daily support withdrawn, and being unable to manage;
• being unaware of other support services in the community that are available to them;
• expectation that they will not be allowed to see their friends or grandchildren;

Below is an example of a typical situation around elder abuse — if it sounds familiar, keep reading to get info on who you can contact to get help, and what to expect when you make a report.  

Financial Abuse is damage to, or loss of Assets or Property. The abuser is usually a spouse or partner, family member (often adult child), care-giver, friend, or a trusted person in the senior’s life. Financial abuse is often accompanied by other forms of abuse, such as emotional abuse, physical abuse, or denial of rights. Three components are necessary for financial abuse to happen:  

1. Need or Greed – the abuser is under financial pressure.

Emotional abuse attacks a senior’s feelings of self-worth or self-esteem. Use of verbal abuse by taunts, threats, put-downs, withdrawal of love and affection, or emotional support by the abuser, over a period of time, affects how a senior feels and is extremely harmful to his/her well-being.

Continuum of Emotional and Psychological Abuse  

• Jokes about habits/faults/age disabilities
• Insults about the senior
• Overly familiar, e.g., use of “dear” – not using name senior prefers

Physical Abuse is the non-accidental use of physical force for coercion, or to inflict bodily harm.

Some indicators of physical abuse or mistreatment of seniors are:  

• unexplained cuts, scrapes, bruises;
• injuries for which explanation does not fit evidence;
• avoidance of significant family, friend or paid care-giver by older person;
• history of repeated injury/illness;
• symmetrical bruising and/or grip marks;
• delay in seeking treatment; and/or
• unhealed sores and/or pressure marks.

Neglect refers to the intentional withholding of basic necessities or care (active neglect), or not providing basic necessities or care because of lack of experience, information, or ability (passive neglect). It can be due to an individual’s choice of lifestyle, depression, ill health, cognitive ability, or inability to care for self (self neglect).

Continuum of Neglect Abuse  

• Lack of attention
• Inadequate clothing
• Lack of hygiene
• Poorly maintained living environment

Sexual abuse is any kind of sexual interaction without a senior’s full knowledge and consent. At worst it is assault and rape. It has been separated from physical abuse and given its own category because the possibility of sexual abuse of seniors is so rarely considered.

Sexual abuse can take place with a confused senior, (dementia), or confused residents in care facilities where they may be approached by other vulnerable residents, visiting spouses/partners, or occasionally, by care workers. Sexual abuse can also happen to competent seniors by spouses, partners, family members, or trusted people in their lives.  

Both over-medication and under-medication are medication abuse, and both are harmful. Seniors often change doctors (thinking a new doctor will prescribe a better pain killer or be more understanding). Seniors may go to different pharmacies. Family members caring for a senior may use medication to have them go to bed earlier, be more “cooperative” or easier to care for.