How are the elderly abused?

Elderly men and women are equally vulnerable to abuse. Any intentional, negligent act by a person that harms or risks harming an elderly person can be considered elder abuse. There are several typical ways elders are abused. Neglect is the most common form of elder abuse. Neglect occurs when an elderly person is denied basic care, shelter, medical attention or food by those responsible for caring for them. Closely related to neglect is abandonment. When a person has responsibility for the care for an elder and allows them to fend for themselves for any extended period of time while they are in a vulnerable physical or mental state it is considered abandonment. Physical and emotional abuse occurs when a caregiver inflicts or threatens to inflict pain or injury through verbal or non verbal means. Mental anguish and distress, as well as any type of physical abuse, are detrimental to an elderly persons health. Sexual abuse of the elderly includes sexual contact of any kind without the ...  more