Victim Issues – Elder Abuse

Victims of economic crime and elderly and at-risk victims are not one in the same, although at times that may be the case. There are different types of abuse towards the elderly at at-risk individuals. Economic crime is just one of them.

ABUSE is an act of commission that causes harm.

• Physical Abuse: most obvious, any forceful or violent physical behavior (slapping, punching pushing, choking, throwing things at the other person, etc.)
• Sexual abuse: forcing elder/at-risk person to perform sexual acts against his/her will or any non-consenting sexual act or behavior
• Threats of abuse: threat of bodily harm.
• Destruction of property: e.g.; hiding, stealing or destroying possessions.
• Psychological abuse: type of emotional abuse when there is a threat of violence and/or one act of physical or sexual violence against an elder or at-risk individual. Produces fear and degradation.

NEGLECT: Acts of omission when not doing something that causes bodily or emotional harm (e.g.: refusing to give elder/at-risk individual proper medical care, withholding medications and food)

ECONOMIC ABUSE: Perpetrator uses elder’s/at-risk individuals assets/resources for self rather than for care of elder.

Reference: Community Housing Services, Inc., Denver, CO