Elder_Abuse

Types of Abuse Physical Abuse * Unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welt, or scars, especially if they appear symmetrically on two sides of the body. * Caregiver’s refusal to allow you to see the elder alone. Emotional Abuse * Threatening, belittling, or controlling caregiver behavior that you witness Sexual Abuse * Bruises around breasts or genitals Neglect by caregivers or self-neglect * Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores * Unsanitary living conditions * Unsafe living conditions Financial Exploitation * Sudden changes in the elders financial condition * Items or cash missing from the seniors household Healthcare fraud and abuse * Duplicate billings for the same medical service or device * Problems with the care facility: poorly trained, poorly paid, or insufficient staff; crowding; inadequate responses to questions about care There are many symptoms of elder abuse. The ones stated here are just a few examples. For more information on symptoms go to http://www.helpguide.org/mental/elder_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual... Resources Who you can call Adult Protective services Lee Co Government 530 Carthage St. Sanford, NC 27330 (919)774-4690 Haven 215 Bracken St. Sanford, NC 27330 (919)774-8923 Types of Abuse Physical Abuse * Unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welt, or scars, especially if they appear symmetrically on two sides of the body. * Caregiver’s refusal to allow you to see the elder alone. Emotional Abuse * Threatening, belittling, or controlling caregiver behavior that you witness Sexual Abuse * Bruises around breasts or genitals Neglect by caregivers or self-neglect * Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores * Unsanitary living conditions * Unsafe living conditions Financial Exploitation * Sudden changes in the elders financial condition * Items or cash missing from the seniors household Healthcare fraud and abuse * Duplicate billings for the same medical service or device * Problems with the care facility: poorly trained, poorly paid, or insufficient staff; crowding; inadequate responses to questions about care There are many symptoms of elder abuse. The ones stated here are just a few examples. For more information on symptoms go to http://www.helpguide.org/mental/elder_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual... Resources Who you can call Adult Protective services Lee Co Government 530 Carthage St. Sanford, NC 27330 (919)774-4690 Haven 215 Bracken St. Sanford, NC 27330 (919)774-8923 ------------------------------------------------- At first, you might not recognize or take seriously signs of elder abuse. They may appear to be symptoms of dementia or signs of the elderly person’s frailty – or caregivers may explain them to you that way. In fact, many of the signs and symptoms of elder abuse do overlap with symptoms of mental deterioration, but that does not mean you should dismiss them on the caregivers say-so (Heplguide.org, 2012). ------------------------------------------------- My Aunt Karen and my Grandfather, Robert E. Baker A special thanks to all that cared for him and loved him My Aunt Karen and my Grandfather, Robert E. Baker A special thanks to all that cared for him and loved him Finding | Bruising | Burns | Traumatic alopecia | Lacerations/abrasions | | | | | | Size | >5 cm | - | - | - | Shape | Resembling implement used, eg, hand, shoe, belt, or cane | Resembling implement used, eg, cigarette, clothing iron | - | - | Location | Face, side of right arm, or back of torso | Immersion burns may appear in stocking/glove distribution | Outside normal vertex or frontotemporal location | Injury to eye, nose, or mouth should increase suspicion of abuse Ligature marks may indicate restraint | Miscellaneous | | | | | | Color not indicative of age of bruise | Characteristics similar to burns seen in children | Hemorrhage or hematoma may result | Inspection of wound margins and patterns may offer clues to direction of responsible blow | | | | Finding | Bruising | Burns | Traumatic alopecia | Lacerations/abrasions | | | | | | Size | >5 cm | - | - | - | Shape | Resembling implement used, eg, hand, shoe, belt, or cane | Resembling implement used, eg, cigarette, clothing iron | - | - | Location | Face, side of right arm, or back of torso | Immersion burns may appear in stocking/glove distribution | Outside normal vertex or frontotemporal location | Injury to eye, nose, or mouth should increase suspicion of abuse Ligature marks may indicate restraint | Miscellaneous | | | | | | Color not indicative of age of bruise | Characteristics similar to burns seen in children | Hemorrhage or hematoma may result | Inspection of wound margins and patterns may offer clues to direction of responsible blow | | | | Finding | Bruising | Burns | Traumatic alopecia | Lacerations/abrasions | | | | | | Size | >5 cm | - | - | - | Shape | Resembling implement used, eg, hand, shoe, belt, or cane | Resembling implement used, eg, cigarette, clothing iron | - | - | Location | Face, side of right arm, or back of torso | Immersion burns may appear in stocking/glove distribution | Outside normal vertex or frontotemporal location | Injury to eye, nose, or mouth should increase suspicion of abuse Ligature marks may indicate restraint | Miscellaneous | | | | | | Color not indicative of age of bruise | Characteristics similar to burns seen in children | Hemorrhage or hematoma may result | Inspection of wound margins and patterns may offer clues to direction of responsible blow | | Finding | Bruising | Burns | Traumatic alopecia | Lacerations/abrasions | | | | | | Size | >5 cm | - | - | - | Shape | Resembling implement used, eg, hand, shoe, belt, or cane | Resembling implement used, eg, cigarette, clothing iron | - | - | Location | Face, side of right arm, or back of torso | Immersion burns may appear in stocking/glove distribution | Outside normal vertex or frontotemporal location | Injury to eye, nose, or mouth should increase suspicion of abuse Ligature marks may indicate restraint | Miscellaneous | | | | | | Color not indicative of age of bruise | Characteristics similar to burns seen in children | Hemorrhage or hematoma may result | Inspection of wound margins and patterns may offer clues to direction of responsible blow | | Table 1. Findings suggestive of physical abuse (Science Direct, 2013) | | “We can help reduce the incidence of elder abuse, but it will take more effort than what we are making now.” (helpguide.org, 2012) Preventing elder abuse means doing three things: * Listening to seniors and their caregivers * Intervening when you suspect elder abuse * Educating others about how to recognize and report elder abuse “We can help reduce the incidence of elder abuse, but it will take more effort than what we are making now.” (helpguide.org, 2012) Preventing elder abuse means doing three things: * Listening to seniors and their caregivers * Intervening when you suspect elder abuse * Educating others about how to recognize and report elder abuse References Robinson, L., Benedictis, T., Ph.D., Segal, J., Ph.D., (2012). Elder Abuse and Neglect: Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Prevention, and Help. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/ Palmer, M., Brodell, R., Mostow, E., (2013) Elder Abuse: Dermatological Clues and Critical Solutions. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/science/article/pii/S019096221100363X