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How to
Identify a Victim of Elder Abuse
Elderly people who are dependent on others for care
can fall victim to physical, emotional and financial
abuse or neglect. Here's how to spot potential
problems.
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Steps:
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1.
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Note any physical signs of abuse: bruises, especially around the
wrists (caused by restraints); skin tears or cuts; bedsores; and
soiled sheets or clothes. |
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2.
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Look for a change in personality: withdrawal, depression, fear
or nervousness around a certain person, or anxiety.
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3.
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Watch for signs of abuse from the caregiver, such as yelling,
pushing, or pulling.
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4.
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Note whether the elderly person has given away valuable items or
money, whether possessions have disappeared from her home, whether a
caregiver is wearing her clothes or jewelry and whether her spending
patterns have changed.
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5.
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Look for evidence that the elderly person has missed
appointments. |
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6.
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Note deterioration in thinking patterns or health (which may be
due to a lack of food), illnesses not responding to treatment,
overmedication, and frequent trips to the emergency room.
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7.
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Look for signs of drug or alcohol use, which could indicate
abuse.
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Tips:
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1.
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Know that abusers may be family members, in-home caregivers,
or people who work at adult day-care centers or nursing homes.
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2.
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Ask the elderly person whether she can trust the caregiver,
whether she's afraid of the caregiver, whether someone has taken
her money or other possessions, and whether she's been hit.
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Other
Miscellaneous
Information
Click on One of the
Links Below to:
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Other Legal
Information
Click on One of the
Links Below to:
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For
Assistance Call
940-325-1306
Our shelter is
located in Mineral Wells, Texas which is about 52 miles west of Fort Worth. If
you need to find a shelter which is located closer to your area, please
click this link and you will be taken to a list of all the shelters in
Texas.
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