Financial abuse is the misuse of someone's property and resources by another person. Hitting, slapping, restraining, molesting, biting, burning, pushing, or pulling all qualify as physical abuse. But they believe that most cases aren't reported to law enforcement or human service agencies, so sizing up the problem is difficult. At age 88 and depending on her son for her physical needs, Mrs. Osterholt has several risk factors. Women over 80 who need partial or total assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation, are the likeliest victims.
Most abuse is inflicted by relatives and occurs at home.
Stroke, incontinence, Alzheimer's disease, confusion, depression, and drug or alcohol abuse are common contributing factors. Elder abuse may also be a continuation of long-standing spouse abuse. When abuse occurs in an institution, the triggers often include stressful working conditions, staff burnout, patient aggression, or negative attitudes toward the elderly. Sometimes you need assessment radar to uncover elder abuse. The signs and symptoms can be masked by normal effects of aging, disease pathology, and functional limitations.