Abuse not only can happen within the family, but it can also happen in hospitals, nursing homes and the community. The abuse may involve physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, or taking or misusing an elderly person’s money or property. Although these forms of abuse may seem pretty straightforward, the signs and symptoms of elder abuse are often hidden. Many overlap with symptoms of mental deterioration and could be hard to recognize as potential abuse symptoms. Follow this link to learn how to recognize cases of abuse.

Elder abuse involves not only doing something that results in harm or puts a helpless elderly person at risk of harm, but also failing to do something to prevent harm, such as neglecting or deserting an older person for whom one is responsible.

Throughout the world, abuse and neglect of older adults remains under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem; yet every year, an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect, according to the American Psychological Association’s Office on Aging. Recent research suggests that elders who have been abused tend to die earlier than those who are not abused, even in the absence of chronic conditions or life threatening disease. Follow this link to learn how to prevent elder neglect and abuse.