Physical Elder Abuse
Physical elder abuse involves physically abusing an elder, and unfortunately, it is not uncommon. More than two million elders suffer abuse each year, and those are only the reported cases. Most elder abuse happens in the person’s own home or the home of a family member. Women aged 80 and older are the most likely to be abused. Often, it is the spouse or a child who is the abuser. Although there are many cases in which elder abuse took place at a nursing home, it is not as frequent.
Examples of physical elder abuse include when a child has to take care of a parent, and becomes resentful and feels overworked. The child begins being rough with the parent, and does things that physically injure the elder.
Another example is when a caregiver resents his or her job, and does not adequately care for the elder. The caregiver fails to give the elder proper pain medication, or fails to dress the elder appropriately for harsh weather conditions, or leaves the elder alone or incapable of moving for long periods of time.
Physical abuse is separate from financial elder abuse, sexual abuse and psychological or emotional elder abuse. Physical elder abuse includes, but is not limited to:
- neglect
- hitting
- slapping
- restraining
- overmedicating or under-medicating
- burning
- biting
- depriving the elder of foodor water
- exposing the elder to harsh conditions, including bad weather
- depression
- bruises
- broken bones
- strains and sprains
- skull fractures
- burns
- evidence of overmedicating
- untreated injuries
- injuries that aren’t healing properly.