Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
elder abuse
[ el-der uh-byoos, -byooz ]
Subclass of:
Domestic Violence
Also called:
Abuse of Older Adults
Definitions related to elder abuse:
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Emotional, nutritional, financial, or physical maltreatment, exploitation, or abandonment of the older person generally by family members or by institutional personnel.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Many older people are victims of elder abuse. It is the mistreatment of an older person, usually by a caregiver. It can happen within the family. It can also happen in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. The mistreatment may be Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; Neglect or abandonment; Financial abuse - stealing of money or belongings. Possible signs of elder abuse include unexplained bruises, burns, and injuries. There may also be bed sores and poor hygiene. The person may become withdrawn, agitated, and depressed. There may be a sudden change in the person's financial situation. Elder abuse will not stop on its own. Someone else needs to step in and help. If you think that an older person is in urgent danger, call 911. Otherwise, contact adult protective services. NIH: National Institute on AgingMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Physical, mental, or financial abuse of elderly persons, usually by their children, elderly care institutions, or people who prey specifically on the elderly.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Elder abuse is physical or psychologic mistreatment, neglect, or financial exploitation of older adults. Common types of elder abuse include physical abuse, psychologic abuse, neglect, and financial abuse. Each type may be intentional or unintentional. Poly-victimization (co-occurrence of multiple forms of abuse) is common. The...Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Over the past 35 years, tremendous strides have been made in identifying and increasing awareness about patterns of abusive relationships. Child abuse and intimate partner violence have received significantly more recognition than elder abuse and continue to receive more attention in both public and medical domains.WebMD, 2019
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Elder abuse can be defined as the failure of a caregiver (or the older person themselves) to provide for the basic needs and safety of an older person, resulting in harm or a high likelihood of harm.Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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