How to Prevent Five Types of Elder Abuse

There are several ways to prevent five types of elder abuse. Elder abuse is something that often goes unreported to the proper authorities. Here are five tips on how to prevent five types of elder abuse.

Never Stay Silent

You're the voice that speaks out on behalf of the elder abuse victims. You don't ever want to stay silent about the abuse that others or you notice that goes in the privacy of the home and nursing centers. The abuser relies on people to stay silent about the abuse for years so that he or she doesn't get caught.

You're the voice that saves the people from more trauma in their life. You owe it to them to speak out and defend the elderly abuse victims. You can cut the amount of trauma caused in someones life when you speak out for them.

Expose Sexual Abuse

Watch the way that a person behaves when you are around them. Look out for any marks or damage when you are giving them a bath. Notice their behavior around certain staff members. Watch their facial expressions around family members as well.

Inspect the elderly persons clothes to look for any blood in underwear. If you suspect an elderly person is being abused that has home care, then make sure to check the bed sheets. This is to make sure that the caregiver isn't doing anything during the middle of the night.

Sexual abuse happens during shower times and other alone times when there is hardly anyone around. Sexual abuse often happens in a nursing home by the staff members. Sodomy is a form of sexual abuse that is very hard to detect due to any evidence that might get washed away when they receive daily baths.

Expose Physical Abuse

Don't listen to any excuse that the abuser pressured the elderly person say. Watch out for any marks that imply physical abuse. Listen to the elder person that is afraid to be alone with anyone. They are afraid for a legit reason so don't shrug it off.

People that try to talk you out of thinking that anything is going on are either the abuser or afraid to speak about the abuse. Staff members often hurt elderly people when nobody is around to witness it. Family members often get away with physical abuse in the privacy of the home with no witnesses around to come forward about the abuse.

Report Financial Abuse

Keep an eye on missing checks in checkbooks. The suspect usually takes the checks out at the end of the checkbook so it goes undetected for a long time. Take notice of any complaints from the elderly person that they have no money left or always running out of money.

Don't believe anyone that tries to convince you to shrug it off as a mistake. The last thing the thief wants you to do is to discover that it is he or she that is taking money from the poor elderly person.

Financial problems often arise from criminals that are taking care of an elderly person. The suspected person is usually a family member or caregiver that the family knows very well. The person will often charge things to various credit cards and take money from a checking account.

Report Medication Abuse

Pay attention to the elder person that complains that they haven't received their pills for the day. Don't dismiss it as them just being old and forgetful because it is exactly what the criminal wants you to believe about the old person.

Inspect insurance billing statements real close to see any refills that are before the thirty-day refill date. Prescription refills for old people before thirty days show that someone is taking them and/or not giving the proper amount to the patient.

Prescriptions are one item that is often stolen from elderly people. People that are criminals often go after the pain pills and nerve pills. Some people like to take the muscle relaxers as well. People that are educated in medical field can get a hit of morphine at a nursing home when no one is looking from an old patient on the drip.

Master criminals might go as far to tell the hospital that the patient is on a certain medicine when they really aren't or never been on it before in their life. People that steal medication are masters at deception to do whatever it takes with no concern as to who they hurt to get their daily fix.

Manipulation Tactics Abuse

Install video cameras in the elderly persons room to record when you are not there. It is for their protection and everyone else protection as well. You'll be able to see if the caregiver or someone else in the family uses manipulation tactics on the elderly person to get them to not talk about any abuse. People that are master manipulation are brilliant at using abuse methods against a disabled or elderly people to get them to stay quiet for years.

Manipulation tactics such as telling the elderly person that nobody will believe them over the abuser is a classic example. Threats of being able to get the person admitted to a mental ward against their will is another manipulation tactic often used against elderly and disabled person to get them to stay quiet.

If you strongly suspect that elderly abuse is happening then tell the elderly person that no matter what the abuser has told them that you will believe what they tell you. You have to let the elderly person know that you are on their side.

You can even tell them the victim who you suspect has abused them. Ask the person to nod yes or something else if it is true what you suspect. It might be easier for the victim to nod yes since at first he or she might be afraid to truly open up to you.

The main forms of abuse against elder people are sexual, physical, and financial. Prescription medication crimes and manipulation tactics are another issue that often arises in cases of elder abuse.