Do You Know How To Stop Elder Abuse?

On June 15, organizations across the world will participate in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The participating organizations will not only be teaching people what constitutes elder abuse, but they will also be teaching the public how to identify and stop it.

If you can't make it to one of these events, you can still participate in Elder Abuse Awareness Day on your own. Take some time to educate yourself on the different types of elder abuse, learn how to stop it, and maybe chat with a few colleagues or peers about the issue or post on social media to help raise awareness.

What You Need To Know

While elder abuse is commonly thought of as something that only occurs in bad nursing homes, it can happen anywhere, even in the family home. To identify and stop elder abuse, a person should know about the different types of elder abuse.

The main types of abuse to be aware of include:

• Physical abuse: This involves actual hitting or other physical attacks, but it also includes being too forceful or negligent in providing care, causing injuries to an elderly person. This can also include sexual abuse.
• Financial abuse: This involves an individual, sometimes even a family member, treating an elderly person's finances, benefits, or assets, as their own. It can also involve tricking a person into giving away their money, and also just straight theft or embezzlement.
• Neglect/abandonment: Similarly to physical abuse, when an elderly person who relies on another, such as professional staff or a family member, for their care is neglected or abandoned, this can also be considered elder abuse.

How To Stop Elder Abuse

Depending on how the abuse is occurring, and what type of abuse is involved, stopping it can often be more difficult than anticipated. Involving legal authorities, such as police or social services, is sometimes the only way to actually stop it. It can be helpful to have some evidence of the abuse, if possible, to better help authorities build a case. Families will often want to handle these matters on their own, which can sometimes be appropriate in limited circumstances. 

However, when elder abuse involves physical abuse, neglect, or theft, police and state agencies can investigate, make arrests, and issue violations, as elder abuse is both a violation of civil and criminal laws. Regardless of whether police investigate, you can still help a family member if you suspect elder abuse. The first thing you may want to consider is talking to an attorney experienced in elder abuse cases on behalf of your abused loved one. If you are just a bystander, you can best help by either contacting police or the state or local social services agency.

Related Resources:

• Find an Elder Abuse Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• What Are the Criminal Penalties for Elder Abuse? (FindLaw Blotter)
• Disrespecting Our Elders: Who to Call for Elder Abuse (FindLaw's Injured)
• 10 Signs of Potential Nursing Home Abuse (FindLaw's Injured)