Abuse and neglect of older adults can take many forms, including physical, emotional, financial, sexual, and spiritual.
Physical abuse includes violence or rough treatment, even if it does not leave an injury. It can also be a threat of physical force. A push that might not hurt a younger person can be very harmful to an older adult. Physical abuse also includes inappropriate use of medications or restraints.
Emotional abuse includes name calling, intimidation, threats, yelling, ignoring, or socially isolating an older person. Emotional abuse is often a form of control. Treating an older adult "like a child" is another form of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse can cause emotional pain, anguish or distress. It can undermine an older person's sense of dignity and self worth. Emotional abuse is also known as verbal, mental or physical abuse.
Financial abuse is the most common form of abuse of older adults. It can involve illegally or improperly using a person's money, assets or property without the person's permission or knowledge. It is often a form of theft or fraud. Examples of financial abuse include: pressuring for money, goods or property; using property or money without the person's knowledge and consent; and misusing a power of attorney.
Sexual abuse is sexual contact with an older adult without that person's consent. It can include pressuring an older adult for intimacy, fondling, touching and sexual assault. Sexual abuse can also include sexual comments or jokes, or leering.
Violation of rights means ignoring older adults' entitlement to basic rights and freedoms that other adults take for granted. Violation of rights may include restricting visitors, or restricting the person's liberty, freedom, rights to privacy, and access to information or available community supports. Violation of rights can also include making decisions about the older adult's health, personal care or finances without the person's consent (or where the person is not capable, her or her chosen substitute decision maker). In some cases, rules or policies may violate an older adult's rights.
Spiritual abuse or neglect means restriction or loss of a person's spiritual practices, customs or traditions. It also includes using an older person's religious or spiritual beliefs to exploit them; attacking a person's spiritual beliefs; and not allowing the older person to attend the church, synagogue or temple of his or her choice.
Neglect can be physical, emotional or financial. It refers to situations where a person has a responsibility to provide care or assistance to an older adult, but does not. For example, a neglectful caregiver might stop paying the bills or providing food, shelter, medication, medical attention, or other forms of assistance that the older adult needs and cannot get on his or her own. Abandoning the person is another form of neglect.
Many types of abuse or neglect are crimes under the Criminal Code of Canada. These include theft (including theft by a person who has been given power of attorney); fraud; assault; sexual assault; criminal intimidation and harassment; failing to provide a dependent person with the necessities of life; and manslaughter or murder.
This page was added on November 18, 2006.