There are various types of elder abuse that can occur in nursing homes or at the hands of in-home caregivers. The five most common types of elder abuse or neglect include:
1. Physical abuse. This includes any physical harm inflicted intentionally on an elderly person, such as punching, shoving, kicking, slapping, and more.
2. Sexual abuse. This includes any sexual contact between an elderly person and their caregiver.
3. Psychological and emotional abuse. This is a non-physical form of abuse and can include threats, intimidation, isolation, destruction of property, and more.
4. Neglect. If caregivers intentionally withhold the basic needs of an elderly person, including food, water, medical care, hygiene, and more, this is considered neglect.
Financial abuse. When caregivers use their access to an elderly person’s money or identification documents for their own personal gain, they are committing financial abuse.