The Prudence Crandall Center for Women in New Britain is alerting the public to the signs of abuse and mistreatment of the elderly.
Some abuse is rooted in a history of abuse that began in earlier years.
For example, a family may have a history of spousal abuse that continues into later years. Adults who were abused as children may themselves become abusive to their aging parents. Other contributing factors include isolation, dependency and misuse of authority, stereotypes of the elderly as frail, incompetent or powerless, lack of understanding of the aging process, substance abuse, and mental, emotional or financial stress. All services are free and confidential. Information for this report was submitted by the Prudence Crandall Center for Women as part of its campaign to educate the public on abuse and treatment of the elderly.