Different Types of Elderly Abuse
The elder members of our society are prone to abuse of any kind. Because of their age, they become physically and sometimes mentally weak, and because of this there are conscienceless individual who take advantage of this weakness.

Abuse of elders can be of different forms. This may be physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Some of these abuse involves intimidation or threats against the elderly, some involving neglect, and others involving financial deception.

Physical abuse
Physical abuse occurs when a person touches an elderly person in a hurtful way or a non-accidental use of force against a senior citizen that would result to physical pain, injury or impairment. This type of abuse includes not only hitting, pinching, kicking, punching, hair pulling, biting, and burning with cigarettes but also the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or confinement.

Many of these types of physical abuse will go unnoticed by others because it is often assumed the elderly person has bumped his or herself and bruises easily. Family, friends and health care professionals should be observant for the possible indication of physical abuse no matter whom their caregiver is or where the elder stay.

Emotional abuse
This is also called psychological abuse. Psychological or emotional abuse occurs when a person causes mental or emotional pain, distress, suffering, or anguish to an elder. Emotional abuse can be inflicted consciously or unknowingly. Emotional abuse can be in verbal form which includes insulting, threatening, humiliating, intimidating, or harassing through words or actions. It could also be in non-verbal form like, giving silent treatment, or isolating him from family members, friends, or his regular activities.

Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse of elderly is the unwanted sexual contact with an elder including touching, sexual assault, and rape. Such contact can involve physical sex acts, but activities such as showing an elderly person pornographic material, forcing the person to watch sex acts, or forcing the elder to undress are also considered sexual elder abuse.
Most cases of sexual abuse in elderly are not reported because of shame or fear of retaliation. While the seniors who are suffering from dementia will not be capable of giving or withholding consent, and may be unable to remember the unwelcome conduct.

Neglect or abandonment
Neglect occurs when a caregiver does not provide adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, medicine, personal safety, or other essentials to an elderly. Ignoring personal hygiene requirements is also neglect. According to report, 49% of elderly abuse is in form of neglect. Neglect can be intentional or unintentional.

Financial exploitation
Financial crimes against the elderly fall under two general categories: fraud committed by strangers, and financial exploitation by relatives and caregivers. This involves unauthorized use of an elderly person’s funds or property, either by the caregiver or an outside scam artist. The dishonest caregiver might misuse an elder’s personal checks, credit cards, or accounts. Steal cash, income checks, or household goods, or forge the elder’s signature or engage in identity theft.
The typical scam that target elders includes, announcements of a “prize” that the elderly person has won but must pay money to claim, fake charities and investment fraud.

Healthcare fraud and abuse
These kinds of abuse are often carried out by unethical doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, and other professional care providers. This may include: overcharging or double-billing for medical care or services, charging for un-provided healthcare, overmedicating or under medicating, and Recommending fraudulent remedies for illnesses