Elder abuse

Elder abuse is a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.

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There are five main types:

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• Physical: e.g. hitting, slapping, burning, pushing, restraining or giving too much medication or the wrong medication
• Psychological: e.g. shouting, swearing, frightening, blaming, ignoring or humiliating a person
• Financial: e.g. illegal or unauthorised use of a person?s property, money, pension book or other valuables, often after fraudulently obtaining Power of Attorney, often after a finding of dementia
• Sexual: e.g. forcing a person to take part in any sexual activity without his or her consent
• Neglect: e.g. where a person is deprived of food, heat, clothing or comfort or essential medication

Perpetrators of this type of abuse can include anyone in a position of control or authority, whether that is within a family or institutional situation. This can include a partner, child or other relation, a friend or neighbour, volunteer worker, or a health, social care or other worker.

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Within the issue of elder abuse there is a hidden fact, that approximately 60% of elder abuse is towards women and that domestic violence in later life may be a continuation of long term partner abuse, or it may begin with retirement or the onset of a health condition. (Silent and Invisible: A Report on Abuse and Violence in the Lives of Older Women in British Columbia and Yukon, 2001)

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The higher proportion of spousal homicides support the suggestion that abuse of older women is often a continuation of wife assault. In contrast, the risk of homicide against older men was far greater outside the family than within. (Statistics Canada, 1999, 38)

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