Physical abuse of an elder adult by their caregivers can come in many forms. People may slap older adults, kick them or throw objects at them. People can cause severe injuries by striking or strangling an older adult. In such cases, older adults are likely vulnerable to severe injuries, especially if they are already medically vulnerable when the incident occurs.
The medical changes that occur as people age can increase the consequences of physical abuse for an older adult. Caregivers and family members living with an older adult do not need to throw a closed-fist punch to cause a brain injury or shove an older adult down the stairs to break their bones. Sometimes, a simple push that causes a same-level fall can be enough to have catastrophic consequences.
Fracture risk increases with age
Declining bone density is one of the standard challenges of advanced age. Osteoporosis is common in older adults, especially women. Their bones become brittle due to a lack of calcium. They are then far more vulnerable to fractures in situations where younger adults might walk away unscathed.
Combine the weakening of bones with decreased muscle strength and a changing center of gravity, and one push from an angry individual could be enough to cause major medical issues for an older adult. A shove from a caregiver could send an older adult tumbling to the ground. That same-level fall could lead to a fracture in their arm or their collarbone. They might even break their hip.
Older adults may then spend weeks in the hospital recovering. In some cases, the fractures they develop after a caregiver pushes them can trigger the medical decline that eventually claims their life. When family members become aware of the misconduct of caregivers, including professionals at nursing homes or family members living with an older adult, they may need to take legal action.
Sitting down with an attorney familiar with elder abuse cases can help family members hold abusive caregivers accountable for physically injuring an older adult. Appropriate legal action can potentially lead to financial compensation and also protection for the older adult to better ensure that they do not face continued abuse.
