Elder abuse can be caused by:

Victims of elder abuse often know and trust their abuser. Most victims depend on the people who hurt them, sometimes for food, shelter, personal care, or companionship.

There are many types of elder abuse and persons may experience more than one type of abuse at the same time. Here are examples of elder abuse.

Failure to provide a safe, warm and comfortable place to live

Denial of social contacts inside or outside your home

Not providing good health care and personal hygiene

Not giving proper food or clean clothing

Not providing aids for daily living, such as hearing aids, walkers, canes, wheelchairs, grab bars

Failure to prevent physical harm

Abandonment or desertion.

Self-neglect, though not technically elder abuse, is also a concern. It is defined as the inability due to physical and/or mental impairments to properly care for oneself, putting older adult's own health and safety in jeopardy.

Physical elder abuse is any rough handling or mistreatment causing personal discomfort which may or may not result in physical injury. This includes:

Any verbal or non-verbal action that lessens one’s sense of dignity and self-worth is psychological abuse. This includes:

Any unwanted form of sexual behaviour, assault or harassment to older persons is elder sexual abuse. This includes:

Sexual comments

Fondling or sexual assault

Being forced to commit degrading acts

Unnecessary help with dressing/hygiene.

Elder abuse issues are generally classified as: financial, neglect, physical, psychological or sexual abuse. Older persons may experience more than one type of abuse at the same time and therefore show different signs of abuse. While the presence of some of these signs and symptoms might not necessarily be caused by abuse, they  should  still be taken seriously as what sometimes seems like self-neglect might turn out to be elder abuse. The most common form of elder abuse is financial abuse and the following may be indicators of this:

Many of the symptoms of sexual abuse are similar to the symptoms listed under psychological abuse and physical abuse, including:

Elder abuse usually occurs in situations where the victim of the abuse is dependent on the abuser in some way. In some cases, it may also be linked to an abuser’s:

Abuse is more likely to happen when the family is going through a period of high stress, including the stress of looking after the older person.

Old age is a difficult time for many people, a time of failing health, reduced income, the loss of a meaningful role, or the death of loved ones. These problems can create great unhappiness for older people and can damage relationships with spouses and children. In extreme cases, this damage can lead to abuse.

In some cases, the elder abuse may be part of a cycle of violence in the family. The person who abuses an elderly parent might have been abused by that parent. The elder abuse could be a form of getting even with the parent for perceived past wrongs.

Staff in long-term care homes, such as homes for the aged and charitable institutions, might abuse residents physically or mentally. Abusers are likely to be frustrated staff members who struggle with poor training, low pay, over-work, or under-staffing.  Staff could also have personal problems that affect the way they provide services to older people under their care.

The personal circumstances or problems of the caregiver do not excuse abuse of the older person. These problems may be factors in the abuse, but they do not justify it.

Most older adults are capable of taking care of their own health needs and do not need constant care. Do not assume that they are mentally incapable merely because they are older adults.

Although victims of elder abuse are generally dependent on their abuser in some way, their dependency is not necessarily because they are mentally incapable or physically frail. However, if they have a mental or physical disability, they are more vulnerable to abuse.

Sometimes the abuse of an older person by their spouse or intimate partner is domestic violence or partner assault.

Isolation and abuse go hand in hand. The single largest factor that contributes to the development and/or maintenance of an abusive relationship is isolation. Many victims of abuse are isolated from their friends, neighbours, and other family members. Talking to a person is one of the first steps to breaking down this relationship.

This could be a son, daughter, spouse, grandchild, or other relative. This family member is often dependent on the older person for money or a place to live. The abuser might have psychological or personal problems such as chronic unemployment, alcoholism, or an abundance of stress. There may also be a history of violence within the family.

Sometimes elderly people are abused by health care and social service providers, either in the community or in long-term care homes. Theft and assault can happen in institutions, but most abuse there takes the form of neglect, poor care, and lack of respect for residents.

From "Elder Abuse: the Hidden Crime". © Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) and Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) , February 2002, www.cleo.on.ca

Some victims do not report elder abuse because:

• They are afraid of what the abuser will do to them if they report the abuse
• They do not recognize the situation as abuse
• They are under the control of the abuser
• They depend on the abuser for food, shelter, clothing, and health care and fear losing their primary caregiver
• They are afraid they will be put in an institution
• They love the abuser and do not want him or her to get into trouble
• They are ashamed to tell anyone that a family member is assaulting them or stealing their money, or
• They think that the police and social agencies cannot really help them.

Sometimes family, friends, or health and social service providers do not report their suspicions of elder abuse because:

• They do not know who to speak to
• They do not know what can be done
• They do not want to get involved, or
• The older person asks them not to report it.

There are other reasons why service providers may not report elder abuse:

• They may not want to involve the police or give out information because they believe that they have a confidential relationship with their client and cannot tell anyone else about what happens in the client’s home
• They do not know that assault, theft, or serious neglect in the family or in a long-term care home is a crime
• They might be afraid of the abuser and of going into the home after the abuse is reported
• They might believe that the police cannot help because the older person would not be physically able to testify in court, or
• They might think nothing can be done because the older person might deny the abuse is happening.

This also applies to anyone who suspects that an older person is being harmed or might be harmed.

There are seven regional offices of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario. Some regional offices have satellite offices. You can also contact the regional or satellite office closest to you.

East Region

Any abuse that takes place in a municipal or charitable home for the aged should also be reported to the local Regional Office of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

This office has the authority to investigate reports of abuse in these facilities as well. The law does not require people to report abuse in municipal or charitable homes for the aged; however, a change in the law is expected that will require it.

If the victim of elder abuse lives in their own home or in any other residential setting, the law does not require anyone to report the abuse. But victims, or anyone else who suspects elder abuse, can report their concerns to the police, health or social services, or a legal service.

There is a hidden crime in our society, one that affects those who are most vulnerable. It is called elder abuse. The definition of elder abuse is any act or omission that harms a senior or jeopardizes his/her health or welfare. Elder abuse can come in the form of neglect, and/or physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse. It can take place in the home, in a facility setting or in the community. The sad truth is it is a crime that often goes unreported, as victims fear consequences or reprisals and have a feeling of shame.

There are several signs of elder abuse, which is often perpetrated by someone in a position of trust or authority. These include unexplained physical injuries; depression; withdrawing from social activity; passivity; nervousness; shame or fear; changes in hygiene and nutrition; lack of food, clothing and other necessities; failure to meet financial obligations; and unusual banking withdrawals.

You may know or suspect that a friend, family member, neighbour, or acquaintance is being mistreated or abused. You might worry about getting involved, not saying the right thing or wrongly identifying the situation. It is important that you make an effort to reach out to the person and talk to them. Ask things like:

The single largest factor that contributes to the development and/or maintenance of an abusive relationship is isolation. Talking to the person is one of the first steps to breaking down this isolation.

On Thursday, June 15^th, 2006, governments, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, religious groups and individuals throughout the world organized observances of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This special day was intended to give abuse and neglect of older adults a global relevance that will sustain and move prevention efforts forward throughout the whole year and years to come.

No community is immune from the effects of elder abuse. Elder abuse is never acceptable. We all have a responsibility to shed some light and awareness on this hidden crime.

Elder Abuse is often referred to as a "hidden crime." Cases frequently go unreported and the issue has never received the same amount of attention as sexual abuse and child abuse. Because of this, there are a number of common misconceptions that cloud the sad reality of this problem. This document will attempt to clear up several of these myths.

Myth #1: Elder abuse is such a horrifying concept; no one would ever abuse an older person.

Reality: Elder abuse exists in every community. While very little reliable national data exists, it is estimated that between 4 and 10 percent of older adults in Canada are victims of some form of abuse or neglect.

There were over 4 million seniors in Canada in 2004. This suggests that between 162,500 and 406,000 seniors in Canada have experienced or will experience abuse later in life.

Myth #2: Abuse of older adults generally occurs on dark streets by unknown perpetrators.

Reality: Most cases of elder abuse are committed by people that the individual knows, and frequently involves a spouse or other family member. Abuse can also occur in institutions such as nursing homes and personal care homes.

Myth #3: Victims always despise the abuser and want to report the abusive situation.

Reality: Abusive situations are complex. The older adult experiencing abuse or neglect is often torn between their feelings for an individual (a spouse or a child, for example) and knowing they are being abused. They may blame themselves or try to deny or hide the abuse, or may depend fully on the abuser and fear losing their primary caregiver.

Myth #4: There are only three categories of abuse: Physical, Emotional, and Financial. Definitions of elder abuse are consistent across the country.

Reality: There are many forms of abuse, including these three. Medication abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect are also distinct forms of elder abuse. Laws defining elder abuse vary across different provinces and territories, but those that are criminal acts are consistently defined across Canada.

Myth #5: Neglect occurs out of ignorance of what an older adult needs.

Reality: While some situations of neglect may be unintentional and caused by a caregiver’s ignorance of an older adult’s needs (passive neglect), the intentional and wilful failure of a family member or caregiver to provide needed services and/or protections is also both serious and common (active neglect).

Myth #6: The risk of being abused varies based upon a person’s income level.

Reality: Elder abuse cuts across all socio-economic strata and demographics. Anyone may be at risk.

Myth #7: Prevention and intervention models used in child abuse cases can be replicated to deal with elder abuse cases as well.

Reality: Prevention and intervention models would not be applicable to both child abuse and elder abuse because there are fundamental differences between the two forms of abuse. Children and adults differ in their levels of competency, levels of privacy desired and rights to autonomy. As a result, using the same models to address both forms of abuse would be neither helpful nor productive.

Myth #8: As people age, they lose the ability to make wise choices and financial decisions.

Reality: Most older adults are fully capable of making decisions and competently managing their own affairs.

Mental decline in older adults, if and when it occurs, is much milder than most people think. Some older adults may process information slower than a young adult, but the difference is often modest and can be offset by the older person’s experience. Adults with severe cognitive disabilities may require greater support, but this does not preclude their right to participate actively in decisions affecting their lives.

Myth #9: Older adults and young adults respond similarly to abuse.

Reality: Older victims are more likely to be injured, more likely to need medical attention, and more likely to lose trust than younger victims of abuse.

Some older adults (particularly older women who are being abused by their husband) have been living with abuse for many years and as a result are dealing with the cumulative effect of years of harm. This can significantly hurt them physically and emotionally.

Myth #10: Passing laws to protect older adults will solve the problem of elder abuse.

Reality: While new laws may help, they alone cannot solve the entire problem. All people need to be aware of the possibility and the dangers of elder abuse. This may involve providing more resources for community services working with older adults, enforcing existing laws, and training law enforcement and health professionals. Passing new laws may or may not be needed but many persons feel that judicious use of existing laws does suffice.