Elder abuse is the deliberate mistreatment of a resident that results in any type of harm. This includes the failure to provide basic needs for the resident. Types of abuse that a resident could suffer while in an assisted living or nursing home facility are:
Physical Abuse
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| Physical abuse is one of the most obvious forms of abuse because of how easily observable it is. |
The non accidental use of force against an elderly person is considered physical abuse. Extreme force to a resident can cause pain, and ultimately death, if injuries due to said force are untreated. Physical abuse can also include the inappropriate use of medication to incapacitate a resident. Physical abuse is one of the most obvious forms of abuse because of how easily observable it is.
Psychological/Emotional Abuse
Most residents in nursing homes are extremely vulnerable on arrival, so the manner in which they are spoken to while in the care of others can cause a lasting impact. Psychological abuse includes yelling or swearing at a resident, or using hurtful and demeaning language.
What is potentially even more dangerous is passive emotional abuse. This includes keeping a resident separated from social interactions for long periods of time or ignoring the resident’s requests. Sometimes passive emotional abuse can be unintentional, but the effects are still extremely damaging.
Financial Exploitation
One of the more common forms of elder abuse is through financial manipulation. This can be committed through slowly depleting the life savings of an elderly person through various means. For residents of nursing homes, they may be victims of health care fraud. This form of abuse creates nonexistent fees or charges a resident for services that are not delivered. Health care fraud can result in illness or death. The elderly and their caretakers need to carefully conduct research to verify the credibility of the provider, and monitor their activity to escape any deception.
Sexual Abuse
As one of the most terrifying forms of abuse, sexual abuse is defined as nonconsensual sexual contact or interaction with the elderly. This typically will occur between the caretaker and the resident. The power differences between the caretaker and the resident increases the severity of this abuse.
Sexual abuse is not restricted to physical touching. A resident could be forced to view sexual acts or materials without consent.
If you have any additional questions about the types of abuse that elders may experience in a nursing home or assisted living facility, please call Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678.