What are possible signs of elder abuse?

Yahoo! News – Spouse Most Likely Source of Elder Abuse

Elderly people may be at increased risk of abuse if they’re cared for by a spouse, especially if the spouse is coping with his or her own physical or mental health problems, according to a new study.

“Caregiving is stressful, and it breaks down the people that are providing the care — they wear down,” Scott Beach, the study lead author and director of research at University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Social and Urban Research, said in a prepared statement.

MayoClinic.com gives advice about what to look for:

If you’re concerned an older adult might be abused, knowing the signs and symptoms of abuse can help you determine if a problem exists. These signs and symptoms may include:
“¢ Physical injury. Examples of questionable injuries include bruises, cuts, burn or rope marks, and broken bones or sprains that can’t be explained. Other signs of potential problems include sudden changes in behavior, comments about being battered or the refusal of the caregiver to allow you to visit the older person alone.
“¢ Lack of physical care. Indications of substandard physical care include dehydration, malnourishment, weight loss and poor hygiene. Bed sores, soiled bedding, unmet medical needs and comments about being mistreated also may indicate a problem. Lack of physical care can happen to older adults living in their homes, as well as those in institutional care, such as a nursing home.
“¢ Unusual behaviors. Changes in an older person’s behavior or emotional state may suggest a problem. Examples include agitation, withdrawal, fear or anxiety, apathy, or reports of being treated improperly.
“¢ Unaccounted for financial changes. Potential problematic financial changes include missing money or valuables, unexplained financial transactions, unpaid bills despite available funds and sudden transfer of assets, as well as comments about being exploited. Another sign may be older adults who are controlling their finances but don’t allow relatives to see their records.

The National Center on Elder Abuse gives additional information and resources.

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