You’d be surprised to find that there are nearly 500 000 cases of adult abuse and neglect that are reported annually. To top it off, there’s been a staggering increase of these cases growing by close to 15% each year. This number has been growing at an alarming rate, and it continues to do so. The sad part is that in most cases the victims fail to speak up for themselves. In addition, it’s common knowledge that most abusers know how to hide their abuse.
If you or your loved one is going through this, it’s a difficult thing to maneuver. If you don’t know what constitutes abuse, it also makes it more difficult to know when you’re in this unfortunate situation. Yet, it’s important for you to know and understand what signs to look for – and most importantly, how you can identify these signs. You should keep on reading to find out more information.
Types of Elder Abuse
Before you can figure out how to identify the different types of abuse that an elder can suffer, you should understand the different types that you can find. When you know the types of abuse, it should make it easier to identify when someone close to you is going through this type of abuse.
- Physical abuse. This can be your loved one suffering from the hands of their abuser by getting beaten up.
- Psychological abuse. This happens when your loved one is manipulated in different ways.
- Financial abuse. When the person who takes care of your loved one refuses to give them money to buy things that they need.
- Neglect. This is when your loved one doesn’t receive what they need to care for themselves. For instance, not giving them water when thirsty. This can lead to elderly dehydration.
It’s still important to know that there are many cases of abuse that aren’t mentioned here. In most cases, you’ll find that cases of abuse can overlap. For example, you might find that your loved one isn’t only being psychologically abused. They might also be experiencing financial abuse. In addition, you should know that abuse is usually an ongoing thing. It’s rare for an abuser to do it once.
Signs of Elder Abuse
When it comes to abuse, it’s often difficult to notice when it’s happening to your loved one. The thing is, they’ll likely hide it from you. But there are some common signs of abuse that you should know how to see. These can be summarized as follows.
- Bruises that are suspicious on certain parts of the body.
- When there’s no plausible explanation for the bruises and injuries that are visible.
- Blaming themselves for things that go wrong.
- Changes in how they engage with others.
- Any unexpected bleeding around the genitals or even discomfort when they walk.
There are many other signs of abuse. As soon as you observe something that’s suspicious, it’s important for you to report it. Don’t wait for them to tell you what happened because chances are they’re afraid to speak up.
In summary, it’s always important for you to be extra cautious of your loved ones when they’re older. Not many people have the skill or patience to look after an ailing adult. You might find that your elder is afraid to speak up because they live in fear of what could happen to them should you find out.
If taking them to an assisted living facility isn’t an option, you should consider finding someone who’s trustworthy to care for them. Your loved one needs more care than you might think they do.