Subtypes | Acts of elder abuse |
1. Physical Abuse | Subjected to physical violence (e.g., hitting, beating, punching) |
Restrained physically | |
Restrained by improper dispensing of medicine | |
Force-fed | |
2. Neglect | Provided with an inadequate/insufficient diet |
Made to live in a poor environment | |
Left with a soiled body or dirty clothes | |
Refused necessities such as clothing, eyeglasses, hearing aids | |
Medical treatment is withheld | |
Refused financial support | |
Abandoned outside his/her home | |
3. Psychological Abuse | Subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse (e.g., bellowing, cursing, saying something bad) |
Intentionally ignored (e.g., not talking to the elderly, not having dinner with the elderly) | |
Estranged from his/her family | |
Insulted, ridiculed | |
Made to feel anxiety | |
Treated like a child | |
Humiliated in front of others | |
Intimidated, threatened | |
4. Sexual Abuse | Inappropriately sexually touched without his/her consent |
Forced to discuss sex-related topics | |
Forced to watch sexual images or videos | |
Left undressed | |
5. Economic Abuse | Assets (e.g., savings, property) are disposed of/used without his/her consent |
Kept from managing/using his/her own assets | |
Forced into issuing or changing the content of documents, such as power of attorney, will, deeds, or others | |
6. Self-Neglect | Doesn’t keep himself/herself clean |
Lives in an inappropriate environment | |
Neglects diet | |
Wears inappropriate clothing | |
Fails to seek necessary medical care | |
Doesn’t interact with others | |
Can’t properly use money or manage bank deposit records | |
Disregards his/her surroundings or own belongings | |
7. Social Abuse | Forbidden or restricted from contacting friends, relatives, and neighbors |
Letters/phones are monitored or the elderly person’s communications are restricted | |
Monitored and restricted with regard to use of transportation | |
Restricted in access to health care facilities |