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Recognising Elder Abuse

There are many signs you can look out for to help you recognise different types of elder abuse. 11 min read

Last updated: 28 February 2024

Each person’s experience of elder abuse will be different, so it doesn’t always look the same on the outside. And because the abuse is often being carried out by someone the older person trusts ­­– and might rely on for care – they may be reluctant to talk about what’s happening.

However, there are likely to be some signs that indicate something might be wrong – in particular, an unexplained change in an older person’s behaviour or demeanour.

Image of an older Indian man

Signs to look out for

All of these signs could have an innocent explanation – but they could also indicate an older person is experiencing elder abuse.

Psychological abuse and coercive control

Unhappiness, loneliness or expressions of fear, unusual worry or anxiety may indicate that someone is experiencing psychological abuse or coercive control. A person who stops going to their usual social activities, answering calls or seeing friends might be being pressured by a family member who wants to keep them isolated.

Expand and read this dropdown list for more warning signs that a person might be experiencing psychological abuse.

Warning signs in the perpetrator

Warning signs in the older person

Neglect

Neglect might be indicated by an older person appearing unkempt or wearing the wrong clothing for the weather, being particularly hungry or thirsty, losing weight or becoming unwell, or their home being unusually chaotic or dirty.

Expand and read this dropdown list for more warning signs that a person might be experiencing neglect.

Warning signs in the perpetrator

Warning signs in the older person

Financial abuse

Money worry and anxiety, along with not being able to buy groceries or everyday items, might indicate financial abuse. There might also be unusual activity in the person’s bank account, changes to online passwords, or requests to visit a lawyer or bank to make sudden changes to a will.

Expand and read this dropdown list for more warning signs that a person might be experiencing financial abuse.

Warning signs in the perpetrator

Warning signs in the older person

Physical abuse

Unexplained injuries and pain – or not being able to remember how an accident or bruise occurred ­– might be an indication of physical abuse, particularly if the person is expressing fear and anxiety.

Expand and read this dropdown list for more warning signs that a person might be experiencing physical abuse.

Warning signs in the perpetrator

Warning signs in the older person

Sexual abuse

It’s not often talked about, but older people can experience sexual abuse – from long-term or more recent partners, or from another individual. Pain, fear and anxiety, as well as injuries to breasts and chest or genitals, could indicate the person is experiencing sexual abuse.

Expand and read this dropdown list for more warning signs that a person might be experiencing sexual abuse.

Warning signs in the perpetrator

Warning signs in the older person

Image of an older woman sitting on a park bench writing in a notebook

Common risk factors

Some characteristics, situations or risk factors can be common among older people who experience abuse. Understanding common risk factors can help us to recognise elder abuse when it occurs.

These risk factors don’t mean that a person is definitely experiencing abuse, and they aren’t the cause of the abuse. They simply indicate that at a population level, there is a statistical association between the risk factor and the occurrence of abuse.

For example, an older person who has some dependence on others for care may not experience abuse. However, if we were to group all the people who are experiencing abuse, a high proportion of them would be dependent on others for care. This means we can identify dependency as a risk factor, and it encourages us to pay more attention to it when we have some concerns.

Understanding risk factors also helps us decide how to support people and how to build and encourage protective factors.

Image of an older caucasian man with white short hair.

Factors affecting the older person

Dependency

Poor health and disability

Reduced capacity

Past experiences of trauma, violence and conflict

Gender and sexual orientation

Mental health

Substance abuse and problem gambling

Social and cultural factors

Social and cultural factors are those related to a person’s cultural environment and social networks. These factors can contribute to the type of abuse a person experiences, and they might also make it more difficult for them to stop the abuse or seek help.

Isolation

Cultural or generational attitudes

Language and cultural barriers

Living situation

Economic factors

Carer stress

Family conflict and dysfunction

Lack of awareness of rights or help services

Factors affecting the perpetrator

It’s hard to work out for certain why people perpetrate elder abuse, because very few people own up to doing so. But listening to older people who have experienced abuse and looking at the context in which the abuse occurred has helped to identify some common factors among perpetrators of abuse.

The National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study includes more detail about how different risk factors can relate more significantly to particular types of abuse.

Relationship to the older person

Living situation

Mental health

Physical health problems

Substance abuse

Financial and housing pressures

Recognising Elder Abuse webinar

Downloads

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More information on elder abuse