How do states define elder abuse?
There’s a general definition provided by the National Center on Elder Abuse. They define it as any knowing, intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or person that actually causes harm to a vulnerable adult. That includes physical abuse; emotional abuse; sexual abuse; financial exploitation; neglect or abandonment. A lot of states tend to follow that definition. What is the most common form of elder abuse? The most common is self-neglect. You may have somebody who is alone in their home and just isn’t necessarily taking care of themselves, or perhaps they may have a problem with their declining health, or they’re isolated, or they have Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. In these cases, the elderly person may not be taking their medications or seeking medical treatment for serious illness. Perhaps they have poor hygiene, or are not wearing the type of clothing that they need to be wearing, meaning that they’re overdressed in the summertime or underdressed when its cold. He o
