The World Health Organisation defines elder abuse as:
A single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust that causes harm or distress to an older person.
Abuse types explained
Compass is aware that elder abuse comes in many forms.
It can be financial, emotional or psychological, physical, sexual, or neglect, and can include stand-alone abuse or a combination of the different types of abuse
It can be intentional or unintentional
It can occur once, or many times
It can be carried out by someone known to the older person, like a family member, friend, professional, or paid caregiver
Whilst elder abuse affects all genders across all walks of life, the abuse disproportionately affects more women than men. Often more than one type of abuse can be used. Some forms of abuse, such as sexual abuse, are criminal acts.
The types of abuse elders experience
When we know what to look for, the better we are at identifying elder abuse.
These are the five commonly recognised types of abuse older people experience.
The theft or misuse of an older person’s money, assets or property.
It may be:
Withdrawing money without permission
Selling an older person’s home without consent
Not repaying loans or not contributing to household expenses
Misusing Powers of Attorney
Going grocery shopping and keeping the change
Taking advantage of the sharing of resources within families and communities
Any act that causes emotional pain, anguish, or distress, or is demeaning to an individual.
It may be:
Name calling, or treating the older person like a child
Confining or isolating an older person
Withholding affection, such as refusing access to grandchildren
Preventing social contact with family and friends
Denying or limiting social activities, such as religious, cultural or community events
Not obtaining or incorporating an older person’s wishes or preferences in exercising powers of attorney
Misleading an individual’s capacity for decision-making
Taking away decision-making powers
Withholding or controlling mail
Taking over the older person’s home so that their normal social contacts don’t continue
Verbal threats, like “Do what I say, or I’ll put you in a home”
An act that causes physical pain, injury or a combination of both.
Physical abuse may appear as a change in appearance, attitude, or behaviour.
It may be:
Hitting, pushing, or shaking
Misuse or overuse of medications
Physical restraint
Putting an older person in a position they can’t get out of, like a chair
Locking an older person in a room
Any behaviour of a sexual nature, done to an older person without their consent. This includes physical interactions and non-contact acts of a sexual nature.
It may be:
Non-consensual sexual contact, language, or behaviour
Enforced nudity
Cleaning or treating the older person’s genital area roughly or inappropriately
Unwanted exposure to pornographic material
Any behaviour that makes an older person feel uncomfortable about their body, gender, or sexual identity
The failure to meet an older person’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, warmth or essential medical care.
Neglect is defined as:
A failure to provide medical attention or care
Not providing adequate food or drink
Poor personal hygiene, like unclean clothing
Unmet physical needs, like withholding dentures or a walking frame
Refusing to allow others to provide appropriate care
Abandoning an older person with insufficient or no support
Neglect is often gradual and can be intentional or unintentional. For example, it could a nominated carer struggling to cope.
The negative impact of ageism
Every one of us at every age is entitled to be treated fairly and enjoy the same opportunities. This does not diminish with age. But discrimination based on age is present everywhere. It can distort our attitudes to older people and contribute to an environment where:
Elder abuse goes unnoticed
Action to prevent elder abuse isn’t taken
Older people don’t feel like they can speak up
Older people are prevented or limited from contributing or participating as full citizens
It’s important to know that the rights of older people are protected by law and enshrined in principles established by the United Nations’ Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Their Principles for Older Persons state that every older person has the right to:
Independence
Participation
Care
Self-fulfillment
Dignity1
In Australia we aspire to a society that:
Respects and values older people
Appreciates the contribution that older people make to their communities
Affirms the dignity and worth of every person
Common factors that increase the risk of abuse
Every individual and every life situation is different. But there are some common factors that can increase the risk of elder abuse.
These factors fall into three categories: social, economic, and personal. Several factors from multiple categories often contribute to an individual's experience of abuse.
Examples include:
Isolation or exclusion
No one to witness the abuse, and not knowing where or who to turn to for support.
Geographical location may limit inclusion in social activities.
Cultural and linguistic differences
People from diverse backgrounds may be influenced by their cultural or generational attitudes to gender and family responsibilities. Response and services may not be culturally acceptable or available in their preferred language. Some people may be reluctant to seek help if they fear racism or discrimination.
Attitudes of ageism
Beliefs that undervalue the contribution older people make to our communities.
Examples include:
Financial exclusion
People with low financial literacy may exclude them from decision-making
Financial pressures
Low or no income, dependency upon others, no permanent residence
A lack of transport
Limited or no access to transport may lead to social isolation and a lack of independence
A lack of contact
Limited access to a phone, email, interpreter, or other methods of communicating
Examples include:
Substance abuse problems
Alcohol, illicit drugs, or gambling that impact the older person or the carer.
Reduced capacity
Poor physical and mental health, and cognitive impairment may increase reliance on others for support in daily living activities.
Past experiences
A history of family conflict that may have led to abuse being normalised. There is evidence that indicates people who experience any type of violence when younger are more likely to be exposed to elder abuse.
Gender, gender identification & sexual orientation
Women are more likely to experience abuse than men, and some people experience compounding factors. For example, older LGBTIQ+ people are more susceptible to discrimination or abuse relating to their gender identity and their sexual orientation.
In some cases, a single dominant factor may be the cause of elder abuse.
For example, it may be a financial pressure or gender related.
But it is not uncommon for several factors across categories - social, economic and personal – to overlap. These connections – our circumstances, our identities and our experiences – not only create higher risks of abuse or violence, they may result in a person experiencing overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation.
For example, the impact of historical treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities mean that Aboriginal populations are subject to higher levels of violence than other members of the population. In turn, this impacts the way older Aboriginals are treated or seek help.
Who is capable of elder abuse?
Unfortunately, elder abuse is mostly carried out by an individual or group the older person trusts. Research shows that in two-thirds of reported cases, abuse is perpetrated by a son or daughter.2
Other common characteristics of known perpetrators include:
The majority of perpetrators are aged 35 to 54 years of age, regardless of gender
In many cases, the older person lives with the abuser
A significant number of abusers are identified as having substance abuse issues or a gambling problem
It is important to note that although many carers go out of their way to genuinely care for the person they are looking after, and may simply be in need of more information and support, this is never an excuse for the mistreatment of an older person.
References and Content Acknowledgement
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