As the senior population continues to grow and outnumber younger generations, the number of people experiencing elder abuse is on the rise.

In some cases, seniors will experience physical abuse or exploitation, but many times it comes in the form of neglect, or failure to provide for a person’s physical or emotional needs. Neglect is often unintentional - be it from a family member trying to juggle too much, or caused by staffing shortages in a senior facility.

Intentional or not, the United Nations estimates that 1 in 6 people above the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse in the last year.

Signs of Elder Abuse

Knowing how to spot the signs of elder abuse is the best way to stop it, so keep an eye out for:

Unusual changes in behavior, including depression or increased anxiety
Broken bones, bruises, cuts, or untreated sores
Stained or dirty clothing and/or living conditions
Significant changes in money management and/or wills

Preventing Elder Abuse

Efforts like the United Nation’s Decade of Healthy Ageing are designed to bring a greater focus on how we, as a society, treat older adults. The goal of this campaign is to ensure that seniors remain a valued member of the community, and their needs are prioritized.

That effort starts with every one of us paying greater attention to the elderly people in our lives, be it a family member or neighbor. Here are four concrete actions you can take to ensure the seniors in your life remain healthy and safe.

Show up and pay attention

It’s easy to get distracted by the demands of our own lives, but elder abuse is more likely to happen to seniors without a strong support system:

A caregiver may allow a senior to remain in dirty conditions if they believe it’s unlikely anyone will notice.
A scammer may find it easy to build a relationship with a senior if they live in isolation.
A senior living on their own may struggle to get the food and medications they need or keep up with basic household tasks like changing light bulbs.

Making a point to stop by an elderly neighbor's house, or regularly check in with loved ones ensures their needs don’t slip through the cracks. When you are with them, keep an eye on their living conditions and signs of abuse or neglect.

Be patient and listen

Some abused seniors can feel ashamed of their situation, or scared to report abuse. They may feel that they should be able to take care of themselves, or be loath to burden you with their problems - especially if you are always busy and in a rush.

Open the lines of communication by slowing down and making your time with them count. Put away your phone, stop looking at the clock, and focus on your conversation.

Support caregivers

Caregivers suffer from burnout, no matter if they are family members or paid professionals. A distressed caregiver is more prone to a physical outburst or neglect, than someone who is in a positive mental state.

You can help caregivers, and the seniors they care for, by:

Lessening their load by helping with chores, errands, or other tasks.
Say thank you and acknowledge the work they do.
Give them a break - that may mean sitting in for a family member or providing an afternoon of paid time off for a professional.

Value the ability and knowledge of seniors

Isolation and depression happen when seniors feel that they are no longer able to contribute to society. This is especially true if they have physical restrictions that prevent them from doing certain activities.

Yet the very fact that they are senior citizens, means they have lived long lives and have a wealth of experiences to call on. So the next time you are working on a problem, or a decision to make, ask a senior in your life for advice. You’ll help the senior feel valued and connected, while gaining some insight you hadn’t considered.

Preventing elder abuse is not hard, but it does take an intentional effort to prioritize the needs of your elderly loved ones. That can be difficult based on the demands of your own life - especially if you do not live near your elderly loved ones.

If that's the case, try to build a network of support to keep tabs on your family members. If we can add to that support team by helping protect your family from financial abuse, please contact us.

4 Ways to Prevent Elder Abuse