Abuse and neglect of older adults can often remain unseen: physical evidence of abuse can be mistaken for symptoms of other medical conditions. Elder abuse may not be reported as it can be viewed as a family problem and victims may be ashamed to report it.
Some of the signs of Elder Abuse include:
- depression, fear, anxiety or passivity
- unexplained injuries, dehydration, malnourishment
- poor hygiene, sores
- over-sedation
- unexplained withdrawls from bank accounts
- change in appearance (clothing in poor condition or inappropriate dress for the season)
CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario) offers the following handbook to help you identify Elder Abuse and seek help. Please click on the image below: