Spotting Emotional Elder Abuse

by Wormington & Bollinger

Elder abuse is a growing problem in the United States, especially in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. There are many different types of elder abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, and mental. Emotional – or psychological – abuse is one of the more difficult types of detect because it is so subtle, in many cases. When a nursing home resident or our elderly loved one is the victim of physical or verbal abuse, the signs are typically clearer. With psychological abuse, there are no physical signs that the elder is under emotional distress. Because of this, it is more important than ever that we understand how to spot psychological abuse and know what steps to take in order to get our loved one the care they deserve.Spotting-Emotional-Elder-Abuse

According to the American Public Health Association, more than 2.5 million Americans are the victim of elder abuse. With this, elder neglect was named the most common form of elder abuse in recent years. If you have a family member or loved one in a nursing home or other senior care facility, it is imperative you are aware of the warning signs of abuse. Again, not all forms of elder abuse are physical, which is why we must take the time to go over how to spot emotional elder abuse, as this is one of the most serious and damaging types.

What is Psychological Abuse?

Before we go over how to spot psychological elder and abuse and what the various types are, let’s look at what, exactly, psychological abuse is. In a nutshell, psychological abuse may be occurring if an aggressor has power over his or her elderly victim. This power allows the aggressor (which is usually someone known to the victim) to directly or indirectly threaten the victim, resulting in psychological trauma and anxiety. In a nursing home setting, the majority of psychological abuse aggressors are the direct caregivers of the victims, but they can also be volunteers, nursing home staff members, and family members of the resident.

Types of Psychological Elder Abuse

There are several different types of psychological elder abuse, both verbal and nonverbal, including:

  • Humiliation of an elderly person (verbal abuse)
  • Habitual blaming, scapegoating, or demoralizing behavior toward the senior
  • Intimidation through threatening yelling or behaviors
  • Isolating the elderly person
  • Menacing the elder
  • Terrorizing the elder
  • Ignoring the elder
  • Neglecting to provide the elder with the care they need
  • Keeping the elder from their loved ones

These are just a few of the most common types of psychological elder abuse that you should be aware of. The effects of psychological abuse can be extremely taxing on the individual and manifest in many different ways, including extreme personality changes. In addition to the elder displaying abnormal behaviors, psychological abuse may manifest as repetitive behaviors, such as:

  • Rocking
  • Teeth grinding
  • Sucking fingers or hands
  • Biting
  • Mumbling
  • Hair pulling
  • Self-harm

If you notice any of the above and it seems out of the ordinary, we encourage you to take action and investigate the situation. If you suspect nursing home abuse, please contact Wormington & Bollinger immediately. Our nursing home abuse lawyers will begin to look into your case and you bring justice to the situation at hand. For more information on psychological elder abuse or the other forms of nursing home abuse in Texas, please contact us today.