Every person-every man,

woman, and child-deserves to

be treated with respect and

with caring. Every person-no

matter how young or how old-

deserves to be safe from

harm by those who live with

them, care for them, or come

in day-to-day contact with

them.

What Is Elder Abuse?

What Is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse is the infliction of

physical, emotional, or

psychological harm on an

older adult. Elder abuse also

can take the form of financial

exploitation or intentional or

unintentional neglect of an

older adult by the caregiver.

Elder abuse is the infliction of

physical, emotional, or

psychological harm on an

older adult. Elder abuse also

can take the form of financial

exploitation or intentional or

unintentional neglect of an

older adult by the caregiver.

According to the World

Health Organization, abuse

and neglect of older adults can be

a single or a repeated act. It can

occur in any relationship where

there is an expectation of trust

or where a person is in a position

of power or authority.

• Physical: includes slapping, hitting, inappropriate medication,

and physical restraint.

• Sexual: includes unwanted sexual touching or being coerced

into sexual acts.

• Emotional: includes insulting, frightening, threatening, ignoring,

or isolating a senior.

What are the Types of Elder Abuse?

What are the Types of Elder Abuse?

• Financial: includes fraud, theft, misusing money or property, or putting pressure on seniors to gain access to their funds or property.

• Violation of Rights: includes withholding information, interfering with mail, or confining a senior to an institution or hospital.

• Neglect: includes leaving seniors without food, adequate shelter, assistance, or personal care.

Who are the Victims?

• Abuse or neglect can happen

to any older adult. It can

occur in any relationship,

including one where there is

an expectation of trust or

where a person is in position

of power or authority.

Who are the Abusers?

Who are the Abusers?

• Abuse of old adults most often occurs within the

family, by spouse, children, and/or grandchildren.

However, abusers can also include friends, neighbors,

paid care providers, landlords and staff, or any individual in a position of power, trust, or

authority.

What are the Signs?

What are the Signs?

• Tell you they are being harmed

• Show signs of depression or anxiety

• Seem fearful around certain people

• Become socially withdrawn (having less contact with the people who they have been close to in the past)

• Become passive and very compliant

• Have unexplained physical injuries

• Lack food, clothing, and other necessities

• Show changes in their hygiene or nutrition

• Suddenly become unable to meet financial obligations, or have unusual withdrawals from their bank or other financial institutions

Health EffectsHealth Effects• Abuse and neglect are a major

source of stress.• The stress of abuse may trigger

chest pain or angina, and may be a factor in other serious heart problems.

• Abuse has significant impact on people at any age, but older adults can be especially vulnerable. In general, older adults have less physical strength and less physical resilience than younger persons.

• Sometimes these signs are mistaken as a part of growing older or may look like other health conditions. For example, mental confusion, depression or anxiety resulting from abuse or neglect may look like dementia.

• People may not realize that sometimes older adults are experiencing frequent falls or have long-term pain because they are being abused or neglected.

• Between 44% of abused older adults experience some level of depression. Up to 6% of abused older adults become severely depressed.

• Living with abuse and neglect can also significantly increase the person's chances of becoming ill.

• Abused or neglected older adults have 200% increased risk of early death.

Did You Know?Did You Know?

Financial EffectsFinancial Effects

•Financial abuse can have a negative impact on older

adult’s health and well-being.

•When abusers steal or control older adults’ money or other property, older

adults may have fewer resources to take care of their own health, housing,

good nutrition, and activities.

Social Effects

The effects of abuse and neglect can carry

from generation to generation.

For example, grandchildren

who witness such abuse

may come to view

negative behaviors

toward older adults

as acceptable and

perpetuate disrespect.

Why Does Abuse Happen

in Later Life?

Why Does Abuse Happen

in Later Life?

• Abuse and neglect may reflect a lack of understanding and knowledge about older adults and aging.

• Some people incorrectly feel they are entitled to an older adult’s property, simply because the person is old, or because they are helping the older adult, or because of their position in the family.

Why Do They Keep Silent?

Why Do They Keep Silent?

In many cases, the person may

be afraid of:

• What will happen to them (“Will the situation get worse?” “Will I be forced from my home?”)

• What will happen to the abuser (“Will he/she go to jail?”)

• What the neighbors, family, or community will think (“What will people say?”)

How Can We Prevent

Elder Abuse? The first and most important

step toward preventing elder

abuse is to recognize that no

one-of whatever age-should

be subjected to violent,

abusive, humiliating, or

neglectful behavior.

In addition to promoting this social attitude, positive steps include educating people

about elder abuse, increasing the availability of respite care, promoting

increased social contact and support for families with dependent older adults, and encouraging counseling and treatment to cope with personal and family problems

that contribute to abuse. Violence, abuse, and neglect toward elders are signs that

the people involved need help-immediately.

“Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land

which the Lord thy God giveth thee”

Exodus 20:12 (KJV).

Prayer For The Elderly Prayer For The Elderly

 Remember Your people, O Lord, especially those to whom You have given the gift of long life.  Reward them now for the good

they have accomplished in the past; forgive them for their failings.  Make

their last days happy, and give them Your grace that they may continue to grow through the challenges of their later

years. Bring them and all Your children to everlasting life with You. 

Amen.

Sources• Canadian Network for the Prevention of

Elder Abuse, “Health and Abuse.”• BC Health Files “Health Effects of Abuse

and Neglect of Older Adults.”• http://www.gov.ns.ca/scs/pubs/elderabuse/

Fact-Sheet-4-Signs-and-Effects-En.pdf• http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html• http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html

More Information

General ConferenceWomen’s Ministries Department

http://wm.gc.adventist.org