Elder Abuse: Domestic Violence in Later Life
Abuse in later years can be a continuation of ongoing years-long abuse as partners continue to age together. However, many people experience abuse at the hands of their children and caretakers in later like. They worry about who will take care of them, and therefore are not always likely to report.
Pattern of Abuse/Victims May Experience:
- Limited access to medical care
- Being given too much or too little medication
- Denied access to medication
- Assistive devices hidden, stolen, broken, tampered with
- Isolation from friends and family; the abuser does not allow anyone in
- Threats
- Humiliation
- Physical violence
- Controlled or denied access to food
- Financial Abuse
- Believe them
- Listen
- Help them find relevant information
- Support their decisions
- Point out that what is happening to them is abuse
- Refrain from telling them what they ‘should’ do.
- Help them locate resources
- Consider calling Adult Protective Services to report the situation
- If they are living in a nursing facility get more information, gather evidence, help the person find an alternative situation