Worry no one will believe them. Sometimes abuse is not reported because doctors, nurses, and social workers do not know what to look for or because older adults may have no contact with people who might report it. Abuse is anything someone does or does not do that ends up harming the person's health and well-being. There are many kinds of abuse. There could be more than one kind going on at the same time.
Physical abuse is anything someone does to cause pain, injury, or disease.
Tied to a bed or wheelchair. Given too much medicine when it is not needed. Physical neglect is the type of abuse that happens most often. Neglect is when the caregiver does not give the person the things needed for his or her health. This may happen when the caregiver does not know what the person needs.