Elder abuse can take many forms. Sometimes, it is emotional or psychological in nature. Caregivers and family members belittle or alienate an older adult. They may even engage in gaslighting, making them question their mental capacity. Other times, elder abuse may be financial. People might take advantage of or steal from elder adults.
Elder abuse can also be physical in nature. Frequently, people hearing about physical abuse categorize it based on the intensity of the violence involved. People often react strongly to situations involving strangulation or injuries caused with weapons. They may feel less concerned about momentary lapses in self-control that result in slaps, shoves or other minor acts of violence.
When a victim of abuse is an older adult, extreme violence is not necessary for abuse to cause significant medical challenges.
Older adults are more physically vulnerable
As people age, their bodies change significantly. They tend to start losing muscle mass in their 40s, which means they are much weaker by retirement age than they were in the prime of their lives. Bone density also tends to decline as people age, which increases their risk of a fracture.
Issues with balance and a changing center of gravity might mean that a kick to the shins or a shove could be enough to send an older adult tumbling down. They could break multiple bones or sustain a traumatic brain injury because of violence that might not cause any injuries to a younger adult. Slaps and other seemingly minor acts of aggression may not cause permanent or serious injuries to the body of the older adult, but they can take an intense emotional toll on the victim.
Generally speaking, family members and other concerned parties need to be ready to speak up after even minor acts of physical aggression targeting vulnerable older adults. Family members may need to arrange to move an older adult to a different facility or to replace the caregiver or guardian managing a loved one’s daily life.
Recognizing that physical elder abuse does not need to be extreme to have a major impact can motivate people to take action. Physical injuries and psychological harm are common in cases where caregivers and family members become violent toward people in their golden years. Legal action may be necessary to protect an abused elder adult and hold their abuser accountable.
