Elder abuse can be broken down into several categories. These include physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, exploitation, abandonment, and self-neglect. Some of these are very self explanatory, while others can be much tougher to identify. Having a thorough knowledge of what these different types of abuse are and how they can be spotted in the people that you love can go a long way toward keeping your family safe.
In many instances, the signs of abuse are visible. Bruises, bedsores, and broken bones can all be signs of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. If you spot these things in an elderly loved one, you need to take steps to protect them. You can talk with them, but oftentimes, they may be afraid to tell you exactly what is going on. In these instances, contacting a higher authority will be needed. The police may be needed, or you can contact your county’s senior services department. Any of these officials will be able to help you or point you in the right direction toward getting the help that is needed.
Other types of neglect are far more difficult to spot, such as emotional abuse. This can manifest itself in strained relationships that were once great, increased arguments, a sudden reluctance to leave the house or be around certain people, or unusual nervousness can all point to emotional abuse or exploitation. Sometimes, your mom or dad might not even know that they are being taken advantage of, so they won’t be able to tell you for sure what is going on, so you may need to do some investigating of your own. Again, contacting someone in a position of authority, such as the police, will be the best way to have the problem solved once and for all. Also, be on the lookout for sudden changes in your loved one’s financial situation. If someone is using their bank accounts illegally, it might be tough to detect at first, but looking for unusual patterns can help you to figure this out, too.
When you are looking for a caregiver, it is absolutely vital that you spend your time researching your options and find the very best for your loved one. Anyone can put on ad on Craigslist and say that they are an in-home caregiver, but that doesn’t mean that they have your family’s best interests at heart. Rather, go through a trusted in-home care service. Ensure that they have done background checks on all of their employees, that there are the proper insurance policies in place, and that all caregivers are highly trained. While there’s no way to absolutely guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to your loved one, going with the right caregiver will ensure that this doesn’t happen from someone that you have hired to care for a family member. These are supposed to be trusted people charged with helping your parent to stay healthy. You don’t want to have to create another thing to worry about.
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