Definitions of abuse

Physical abuse

Physical abuse includes any form of physical aggression, rough handling, burning, pushing, assault, kicking, etc.

Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse is when an older adult is subjected to repeated or chronic verbal assault that insult, threaten, humiliate or exclude.  Lack of affection, betrayal, social isolation or denying the chance to make or participate in decisions that pertain to the individual’s own interests are included.

Material/financial abuse

Material/financial abuse (sometimes referred to as exploitation) involves misuse of a senior’s money, possessions or property.  It includes fraud or using a senior’s funds for purposes contrary to her or his needs and interests.  This type of elder abuse has been noted as the most common, possibly because seniors themselves find it relatively easy to identify.

Passive or active neglect

Passive or active neglect involves the withholding of items or care necessary for daily living.  This type of abuse can be intentional (active or physical) or non-intentional (passive), and it is most common among seniors living in institutional milieus.

Self-neglect, or an individual’s failure to provide adequate care for herself or himself, has also been identified as a form of elder abuse, and is the most common type of mistreatment identified by Adult Protection workers.  Although there is no outside perpetrator of this type of abuse, relatives or others may be aware of the problem and fail to help.

Violation of a person’s rights

Violation of a person’s rights has also been recognized as a form of abuse.  This consists of preventing an individual from making personal decisions or forcing the individual to do something against her or his wishes, such as going to a nursing home.  Other authors include this in the psychological abuse category.

Social, systemic or collective abuse

Social, systemic or collective abuse has been identified as a societal form of abuse.  It includes ageism and other ways of treating elderly persons that affect their personal dignity and identity.  This type of abuse was highlighted in a British study that pointed out that abuse and neglect are socially structured through a range of policies and professional ideology relating to dependency in old age.  Some authors include this type of abuse and neglect in the category of psychosocial abuse.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse includes any form of assault of the person in a sexual way or forcing her or him to perform or engage in any sexual activity against her or his wishes.  Sexual abuse is often part of physical or psychological abuse, but it is kept as a separate category because it is often not identified by health and social practitioners or older adults themselves.

Care abuse

Care abuse is abuse which is perpetrated by the care receiver toward the caregiver.  It is usually reported among caregivers responsible for an older adult who is suffering from dementia or mental illness; according to one study, care abuse represents about 3 percent of the overall abuse.

Few studies have taken into account how multicultural or aboriginal groups define abuse and neglect.  Most studies ignore cultural nuances and seem to assume that all seniors are similar in their attitudes and perceptions.