Physical Elder Abuse
Physical Elder Abuse occurs when someone intentionally inflicts, or threatens to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or deprives them of a basic need.
Physical abuse can range from slapping or shoving to severe beatings and restraining with ropes or chains. When a caregiver or other person uses enough force to cause unnecessary pain or injury, even if the reason is to help the older person, the behavior can be regarded as abusive. Physical abuse can include:
- Hitting
- Beating
- Pushing
- Kicking
- Pinching
- Burning
- Biting
It can also include such acts against the older person as over - or under - medicating, depriving the elder of food, or exposing the person to severe weather, deliberately or inadvertently.
Elder Sexual Assault
Elder Sexual Assault is any unwanted, non-consensual sexual contact. Sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent is also considered sexual abuse. It includes, but is not limited to, unwanted touching, coerced nudity, sexually explicit photography and all types of sexual assault or battery, such as rape and sodomy.