ELDER ABUSE

Questions about Abuse to Routinely Ask Mature Adults
The American Medical Association recommends that doctors routinely ask mature adults about abuse, even if signs are absent. These questions are useful for any service provider working with older adults, or family members to ask when involved with vulnerable mature adults. See Article

The Caregiver Abuse Screen (Reis-Nahmiash CASE)
This is a useful screening tool for caregivers to self appraise personal risks for abusive caregiving. See Article

Indicators of Possible of Elder Mistreatment, Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
These descriptions are not necessarily proof of abuse, mistreatment, neglect, or exploitation. But they may be clues that a problem exists, or that counseling needs to be offered or a report needs to be made to law enforcement or Adult Protective Services (APS). See Article

Elder Abuse:  Your Legal Options
The Senate Special Committee on Aging estimates there are over 5 million victims of elder abuse a year.  However, the amount of reported cases of elder abuse versus unreported cases of elder abuse events is 16% to 84% respectively.  The discrepancy is due in part to the fact that elder abuse is considered a “family” concern. Older adults often do not want to report the incident of abuse perpetrated by a family member. Some older adults are so cognitively impaired they are incapable of reporting abuse.  See Article

Pressure Ulcers Can Be a Sign of Abuse
This injured skin condition can become so severe that the bone actually becomes exposed, increasing the risk of infection. Pressure ulcers are extremely hazardous and can be life threatening. Pressure ulcers are a telling sign of neglect or elder abuse. It is often an indicator a person has been immobilized for longer than is healthy. See Article

Supporting Caregivers to Prevent Elder Abuse
Caregiver stress is the most common cause of elder abuse. The demands of caring for an older, frail, or disabled individual can interfere with all aspects of a caregiver's life, leaving both parties isolated and creating a potentially dangerous situation for the care receiver.  See Article