A change in living arrangements or the person's living situation is not commensurate with their financial status or assets. Time lags between injuries and medical treatment or history of emergency room or doctor shopping. Unusual banking activity such as switching accounts or large withdrawals. Caregiver indifference or anger toward the elderly person. Victims of elder abuse suffer in silence as abuse is difficult to detect and often occurs in private.
Many victims are unwilling or are even unable to describe the abuse.
Professionals as well as lay people can provide a warm and empathetic attitude toward elder adults in order to create an environment in which they feel safe in disclosure and can discuss possible alternatives to their situation. If elder abuse is suspected, family members or friends can follow through by visiting the person intermittently to monitor the situation and let the abuser know they are being observed. If abuse suspected, you must notify the abuse hotline, or one can notify the police, and a complete investigation will be conducted in order to assess the situation. Care should be taken so as not to aggravate the situation. Every state has adult protective services and most have hotlines available to report suspected mistreatment of abuse.