Elder abuse refers to any intentional act or lack of appropriate action that harms an elderly person. It can include physical, psychological, sexual, financial abuse, and violation of personal rights. Around 1 in 6 elderly people experience some form of abuse. The main abusers are often sons and daughters-in-law. Signs of abuse include unexplained injuries, weight loss, and inconsistent stories from the elderly person and their caregiver. Prevention strategies include education, awareness campaigns, and ensuring elderly people's basic needs for food, shelter, and healthcare are met.

1. Elderly Abuse
RIYAS T J
M S N

2. Introduction
Elder abuse is a single or
repeated act or lack of
appropriate action, occurring
within any relationship where
there is an expectation of
trust, which causes harm or
distress to an old person.
Elderly Abuse

3. Definition
Elderly abuse refers to the term referring to any knowing intentional
act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious
risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.
It is generally agreed that abuse of older people is
either an act of commission or of omission (in
which case it is usually described as ‘‘neglect’’), and
that it may be either intentional or unintentional,
The abuse may be of a physical nature, it may be
psychological (involving emotional or verbal
aggression), or it may involve financial or other
material maltreatment. Regardless of the type of
abuse, it will certainly result in unnecessary
suffering, injury or pain, the loss or violation of
human rights, and a decreased quality of life for the
older person.
Elderly Abuse

4. Incidence
Around 1 in 6 people, 60
years and older experienced
some form of abuse in
community settings during
the past year.
According to Help Age India,
around 60 % of Indian elderly
have experienced elder
abuse and the main abusers
were Son (57%) and
Daughter-in-law (38%).
Elderly abuse is an
important public
health problem
Elderly Abuse

5. Types of abuse of older people
Elderly Abuse
01-Physical Abuse
The infliction of pain or injury
Slapping
Physical coercion or physical or drug induced restraint
Striking
Over sedation with medication

6. Elderly Abuse
02-Neglect
Food
Water
Medication
Clothing
Hygiene
Eyeglasses
Hearing aid
Failure or refusal to provide basic life needs including:
Failure to provide physical aids such as:
Failure to ensure safety.

7. Breathing verbally
Harassment
Intimidation
Threats of punishment
Deprivation
Childlike treatment
Isolation
Elderly Abuse
03-Psychological or emotional abuse

8. non-consensual sexual contact
Bad touching
Forced sexual contact
Elderly Abuse
04-Sexual abuse

9. Denying acess to personal
resorces
Stealing money or possession
illegal or improper exploitation or
use of funds
Elderly Abuse
05-Financal abuse

10. Denying right to privacy or right to make
decisions regarding health care or living
environment.
Elderly Abuse
06-Violation of personal rights

11. Elderly Abuse
Broken bones or fractures
Poor physical appearance
Change in mental status
Frequent infection
Unexplained weight loss
Refusal to speak
Lack of cleanliness
Signs of older abuse
Older people are physically weaker and more vulnerable than younger adults, their
bones are more brittle and convalescence takes longer. Even a relatively minor
injury can cause serious and permanent damage. Many older people survive on
limited incomes, so that the loss of even
a small sum of money can have a significant impact.
They may be isolated, lonely or troubled by illness,
in which case they are more vulnerable as targets for
fraudulent schemes.

12. Elderly Abuse
Assessment
There should be an investigation of a patient’s condition for possible abuse,
if a doctor or other health care worker notices any of the following signs.
Delays between injuries or
illness and seeking medical
attention.
Implausible or vague
explanations for injuries or ill-
health, from either the
patient or his or her
caregiver.
Differing case histories from
the patient and the
caregiver.
Frequent visits to emergency
departments because a
chronic condition has
worsened, despite a care plan
and resources to deal with this
in the home.
Functionally impaired older
patients who arrive without
their main caregivers.

13. Interventions related to mandatory reporting
Protective service units
Social service protocols
Emergency shelters
Support and self help groups
Consultation team
A variety of interventions have been developed
Interventions
Elderly Abuse

14. Prevention starts with awareness. One important way to
raise awareness – both among the public and
concerned professionals – is through education and
training. Those providing health care and social services
at all levels, both in the community and in institutional
settings, should receive basic training on the detection of
elder abuse. The media are a second powerful tool for
raising awareness of the problem and its possible
solutions, among the general public as well as the
authorities.
Prevention strategies
Elderly Abuse

15. Elderly Abuse
Conclusion
The problem of elder abuse cannot be properly solved if the essential
needs of older people – for food, shelter, security and access to health
care – are not met. The nations of the world must create an
environment in which ageing is accepted as a natural part of the life
cycle, where anti-ageing attitudes are discouraged, where older people
are given the right to live in dignity – free of abuse and exploitation –
and are given opportunities to participate fully in educational, cultural,
spiritual and economic activities.

16. Thank you!
Elderly Abuse