From the Director
Beware the signs of elder abuse
By Robert P. Dean
Elder Abuse is defined as “an act or omission which results in serious physical or emotional injury to an elder,” and may include physical abuse, emotional abuse, caretaker neglect, self- neglect, or financial exploitation.
Physical signs of elder abuse may include unexplained cuts, puncture wounds, burns or welts, or injuries that have not been properly cared for. Additional physical signs include dehydration or malnutrition without an illness-related cause, soiled clothing, inappropriate medication administration, or forced isolation. Behavioral signs of elder abuse include fear, anxiety, withdrawal, confusion, disorientation, depression, and a reluctance to talk openly. Typically, the abuser is someone the victim knows, and may in some cases be the victim’s caregiver. Signs of caregiver abuse may include a caregiver who offers conflicting accounts regarding an elder’s injuries; who displays anger, indifference or aggressive behavior towards an elder; or, who tries to prevent an elder from speaking to or seeing visitors, including friends and family members. Mental health and substance abuse issues among an elder’s family members, particularly caregivers, also contribute to elder abuse and financial exploitation.
Signs of financial exploitation may include frequent expensive gifts from an elder to a caregiver, multiple or large sums of cash removed from an elder’s bank account, unusual activity on a bank account, frequent checks made out to “cash,” numerous unpaid bills, and missing checks, credit cards, or personal belongings. Additional signs of financial exploitation include an elder who is refinancing a mortgage or taking out a loan at the direction of another - especially if he or she is being told they need to act quickly, or a recent will which an elder may not seem capable of having written.
With regard to self-neglect, we are seeing an increased number of reports of elders with mental health issues. In many cases, these elders are undiagnosed, untreated, and not connected to the mental health system and the supports it offers. We are also seeing an increased number of reports of substance abuse - particularly of alcohol – among seniors. Reports of hoarding (which is defined as an excessive accumulation of unnecessary items such as newspapers, clothing, unusable household items, and even garbage) have become more widespread. Hoarding, alcohol abuse, and mental health issues can lead to unsafe, even hazardous living conditions.
Unfortunately, abuse and neglect of older persons continues to be largely under-recognized by the community-at-large, and remains an unspoken problem. Here in Berkshire County, Elder Services Protective Services Program provides assistance to seniors who are victims of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation by another, or of self-neglect. Protective Services staff work with the senior to identify the abuse and to take steps to stop it. In some situations, further abuse or neglect can sometimes be prevented by setting up in-home services such as personal care and homemaking. In certain cases involving financial exploitation, Elder Services’ Money Management program may be able to help. Other situations may be much more complex.
In addition to its Protective Services Program, Elder Services offers Enhanced Elder Intervention, a program unique to Berkshire County, which provides intensive, short-term, solution-focused casework for elders who are at the beginning stages of self-neglect and are having difficulty meeting their needs in the community. The Enhanced Elder Intervention program provides a “safety net” for fragile Berkshire elders, who do not fall within the scope of any other existing program’s services, and who are often reluctant to accept the help they need to remain independent.
If you know a senior who may be a victim of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation by another, or who is self-neglecting, please contact Elder Services. Your call will be confidential, you do not need to give your name, and we may be able to help.
On an unrelated note, I would like to wish you a happy Father’s Day.
Robert P. Dean is Executive Director of Elder Services.
