Elder Abuse Awareness Series


The UDCA Senior Committee will be releasing a monthly education and awareness series. This month’s series is focused on Elder Abuse. For more info, please see the National Center for Elder Abuse. If you’ve seen or suspect elder abuse, please report it to adult protective services at 1-855-444-3911.

If you are intersted in learning more, or participating in the UDCA Senior Committee – please contact communications@udca.info or call the UDCA hotline at 313-318-7498.

—–

Elder abuse is a growing problem. While we don’t know all of the details about why abuse occurs or how to stop its spread, we do know that help is available for victims. Concerned people, like you, can spot the warning signs of a possible problem, and make a call for help if an elder is in need of assistance.

Elder Abandonment

The purposeful or willful and permanent desertion of an elderly person or dependent adult by anyone having care or custody of that person under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide  care and/or custody, such as leaving him/her unattended for long periods of time and in public or private places.

Emotional/Psychological Abuse

The intentional or reckless infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, intimidation, or other verbal  or non-verbal abusive conduct as punishment for treatment or care of; such as name calling, insulting, ignoring for extended periods of time, frightening, intimidating, and isolating from friends and family and social activities.

Financial Exploitation

The unauthorized use of funds or any resources of an elderly individual; the misuse of exploitation power of attorney or representative payee status for one’s own advantage or profit; such as stealing of property or jewelry; obtaining the elderly person’s signature for transfer of property or for a will through force, pressure or violence; scams and identity theft.

Neglect

The failure of a caregiver to NOT provide food, shelter, clothing, medical services, or health care for the person unable to care for him/herself and the failure to provide the basic needs for the elderly person’s maintenance and well-being, either intentionally or accidentally.

Physical Abuse

Physical Abuse The intentional use of physical force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment; such as slapping, beating, cutting, burning, pushing or shoving, excessively restraining, force-feeding, and physical punishment.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse  involves forced or unwanted sexual interaction of any kind with an elder adult.  This may include unwanted sexual contact or penetration or non-contact acts such as sexual harassment.

Self-Neglect

Self-neglect is when the behavior of an elderly person threatens his or her own health or safety; such as failure to provide oneself with proper hygiene; adequate food, clothing, shelter, medication, safety, sanitation; and finances .