Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse

Question 1

Mistreatment of older people and relatively dependent people, including physical
battering, neglect, financial or other exploitation, and psychological harm. Abuse may be inflicted by the older person’s adult children or other relatives, legal custodians, or other care
providers

Answer 1

Elder abuse

Question 2

The infliction of physical pain or injury, physical coercion, sexual abuse, and willful or
unintended failure to provide needed food, clothing, and medications (Tomita, 2009)
● Bruises
● Welts
● Lacerations
● Punctures
● Burns
● Head injuries, missing patches of hair
● Unexplained genital infections or sexually transmitted diseases
● Weight loss
● Untreated medical conditions

Answer 2

Physical Abuse and Neglect

Question 3

The infliction of mental anguish, name-calling, threats, or isolating and excluding from
activities
● Sleep disturbance
● Change in eating pattern
● Unexplained weight changes
● Depression and crying
● Low self-esteem
● Fearfulness or paranoia
● Confusion and disorientation
● Apathy and agitation

Answer 3

Psychological Abuse and Neglect

Question 4

The illegal or improper exploitation or use of funds or other resources (Tomita, 2009)
● Lack of food, complaints of hunger
● Inability to pay bills, utilities being turned off
● Overinvolvement of family members in financial affairs
● Refusal to pay for services even when finances appear adequate
Unexplained withdrawals from bank account or reports of being taken to bank by
caregiver

Answer 4

Financial Abuse

Question 5

Abduction: In the context of elder abuse reporting, abduction refers to removing the
elder/dependent adult from their state and keeping them from returning to their state when
they either do not consent to this or do not have the capacity to consent. Of course, if a
parent(s) chooses to relocate their family and child to a new state, this wouldn’t be
considered abduction.
● Financial abuse: Because children are financially dependent on their parents, we don’t report
financial abuse of minors. Financial abuse is reportable for elders.

Answer 5

Differences between elder abuse reporting and child abuse reporting