LMSW: Abuse & Neglect of elderly & Dependent adult clients

Elder Abuse:

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

Physical Abuse and neglect

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

Psychological Abuse and Neglect

The infliction of mental anguish, name-calling, threats, or isolating and excluding from activities (Tomita, 2009) ● Sleep disturbance ● Change in eating pattern ● Unexplained weight changes ● Depression and crying ● Low self-esteem ● Fearfulness or paranoia ● Confusion and disorientation ● Apathy and agitation

Financial Abuse

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

Differences between elder abuse reporting and child abuse reporting:

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.