Understanding and Spotting Elder Abuse: A Guide for Families in Indiana

Elder abuse is a serious and often overlooked issue that affects millions of older adults every year. While many seniors live in safe environments, some are subject to various forms of mistreatment, ranging from physical abuse to financial exploitation. Understanding and spotting elder abuse is crucial to protecting vulnerable older adults, particularly those who may not be able to advocate for themselves. With that in mind, the Indianapolis attorneys at Frank & Kraft help Indiana families to understand and spot elder abuse.

What Is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse encompasses a wide range of harmful actions directed toward older adults. This abuse can occur in different settings, including private homes, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities. The most common types of elder abuse include:

• Physical abuse: This involves using force that causes injury or physical pain, such as hitting, shoving, or restraining.
• Emotional or psychological abuse: This includes verbal assaults, threats, or actions intended to cause distress or fear.
• Neglect: Neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to provide necessary care, resulting in harm to the elder’s health or well-being. This can involve inadequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.
• Financial exploitation: This involves the illegal or unauthorized use of an older person’s funds or property, often by caregivers or relatives.
• Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse includes any non-consensual sexual contact or activity with an elderly person.

Recognizing these types of abuse is the first step in addressing the problem. While some forms of abuse, like physical injury, may be visible, others, such as emotional abuse or financial exploitation, can be more difficult to detect.

Warning Signs of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can manifest in several ways, and family members or friends should be on the lookout for the following red flags:

• Unexplained injuries: Bruises, cuts, burns, or fractures with no clear explanation may be signs of physical abuse.
• Changes in behavior: Sudden mood swings, depression, or withdrawal from social activities can be indicators of emotional or psychological abuse.
• Poor hygiene or unsafe living conditions: Dirty clothes, malnutrition, untreated bedsores, or a lack of basic necessities like heat or electricity can point to neglect.
• Unusual financial activity: Large withdrawals, sudden changes to a Will or power of attorney, or missing valuables may signal financial exploitation.
• Fearfulness around caregivers: If an elder seems fearful or anxious around a specific person, this could be a sign that abuse is occurring.
• Unexplained sexually transmitted infections or genital injuries: These can be signs of sexual abuse, which is more common than most people realize.

Indiana Resources for Reporting and Preventing Elder Abuse

If you suspect elder abuse in Indiana, there are several resources available to help investigate and prevent further harm:

• Adult Protective Services (APS): APS investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults in Indiana. You can report suspected abuse by calling the APS hotline at 1-800-992-6978 or by visiting your local APS office.
• Indiana State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: This program helps resolve complaints and advocates for the rights of residents in long-term care facilities. If you believe a loved one is being abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you can contact the Ombudsman at 1-800-622-4484.
• Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA): The FSSA provides resources and support for older adults and their families.
• Elder law attorney: While elder abuse can be a crime, it can also serve as the basis for a civil lawsuit against the perpetrators. An experienced elder law attorney can discuss your legal options with you, including steps you can take to remove your loved one from an abusive environment.

Are You Concerned about Elder Abuse in Indiana?

For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you are concerned that a loved one is the victim of elder abuse in Indiana, contact the experienced Indianapolis elder law attorneys at Frank & Kraft by calling (317) 684-1100 to schedule an appointment.

The post Understanding and Spotting Elder Abuse: A Guide for Families in Indiana appeared first on Frank & Kraft, Attorneys at Law.