geriatrics
Elder Abuse
Introduction
Elder abuse is physical or psychologic mistreatment, neglect, or financial exploitation of older adults. Common types of elder abuse include physical abuse, psychologic abuse, neglect, and financial abuse. Each type may be intentional or unintentional. Poly-victimization (co-occurrence of multiple types of abuse) is common. The perpetrators are often adult children but may be other family members or paid or informal caregivers. Physical abuseis use of force resulting in physical or psychologic injury or discomfort. It includes striking, shoving, shaking, beating, restraining, forceful feeding, and unwarranted administration of drugs. It may include sexual assault (any form of sexual intimacy without consent or by force or threat of force). Psychologic abuseis use of words, acts, or other means to cause emotional stress or anguish. It includes issuing threats (eg, of institutionalization), insults, and harsh commands, as well as remaining silent and ignoring the person. It also includes infantilization (a patronizing form of ageism in which the perpetrator treats the older person as a child), which encourages the older person to become dependent on the perpetrator. Neglectis the failure or refusal to provide food, medicine, personal care, or other necessities; it also includes abandonment. Neglect that results in physical or psychologic harm is considered abuse. Financial abuseis exploitation of or inattention to a person’s possessions or funds. It includes swindling, pressuring a person to distribute assets, and managing a person’s money irresponsibly. cites studies reporting as many as 1 in 10 older adults are victims of physical abuse, psychologic abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect. Worldwide as many as 1 in 6 community-dwelling people age ≥ 60 are victims of abuse ( General references ), and the rates are higher in long-term care facilities ( Abuse usually becomes more frequent and severe over time. Reports of elder abuse increased during the COVID-19 ; also, rates of physical and emotional abuse and cases of multiple types of abuse were significantly higher ( 