Elder Abuse
A message from State Farm Enterprise Security
Did you know that each year, approximately four million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, and/or other forms of abuse and neglect? And unfortunately, only one out of every twenty-five cases of elder abuse are reported.
Elder abuse can include physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse, in addition to confinement, isolation, neglect caretaking, willful deprivation of medical care, and other violations of a person’s rights.
At times, elder abuse can involve domestic violence. Domestic violence can begin later in life or start earlier and continue into later years. Per the National Domestic Violence Hotline, there are many causes for late onset domestic violence, including stresses resulting from retirement, disability, shifting roles for family members and sexual changes. Older men and women are also more likely to experience domestic violence at this age if they enter a new relationship later in life.
In addition to the known symptoms of domestic abuse, frequent and more severe injuries, confusion and disassociation are characteristics of late onset domestic violence.
Per the National Domestic Violence Hotline, perpetrators of elder abuse are typically people with whom the victim has an expectation of trust, particularly spouses, intimate partners, adult children, grandchildren, other family members, and non-related caregivers. Perpetrators typically, but not exclusively, abuse older adults in their places of residence.
Take Action
If someone tells you they are a victim of abuse, believe him or her. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 for assistance with local resources, support, and help with safety planning.
Talk to the people in your life — whether or not they are aged sixty and over — to raise awareness and start conversations about abuse in later life.
Continue to learn more about this topic by visiting:
Adult Protective Services (APS) in your state
National Domestic Violence Hotline – Domestic Abuse Later in Life