Programs & Services > Seniors & Caregivers > Abuse of Older Adults Program

Abuse of Older Adults Program

The Seniors and Caregivers Support Service Unit at Family Service Toronto provides social work services to older people experiencing abuse.  The team also works with family members who may be concerned that an older relative is being abused. 

If you are an older adult and experience abuse or are a caregiver dealing with high levels of stress, FST's experienced counsellors can help you. You can come to our office for individual counselling, attend support groups or educational seminars, talk to a trained counsellor by telephone or in exceptional circumstances arrange for us to come to your home. We are able to provide counselling in English and Spanish.

Defining Abuse

Elder abuse is defined by the World Health Organization as any action or inaction by self or others that jeopardizes the health or well being of an older adult. This includes physical, emotional, financial, sexual or medication abuse, passive or active neglect and denial of civil or human rights.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is any physical pain or injury which is willfully inflicted upon a person, unreasonable confinement or punishment which results in physical harm.

Indicators of physical abuse include: 

• body or head injuries
• bruises, welts, swelling, fractures that can not be reasonably explained
• rope marks
• grip marks 
• flinching or pulling away
• internal injuries for which the victim offers inconsistent explanations or no reason at all.

Forms of physical abuse that are criminal code offences:

• Assault
• Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm
• Forcible confinement
• Administering a noxious substance
• Manslaughter
• Murder

Psychological/Emotional Abuse

Psychological/Emotional abuse is defined as the infliction of mental anguish or the provocation of fear of violence or isolation.  It diminishes the identity, dignity and self-worth of the person.

Older people can be subjected to a variety of abusive behaviours such as:

• Name calling
  
• Ignoring the person
• Threatening
• Infantalization
• Isolation
• Removal of decision-making power
• "Crazy-making" behaviours

Indicators of emotional abuse include

• Low self-esteem
• Appearance of "shrinking" (especially when in the presence of abuser)
• Agitation
• Difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping
• Tearfulness
• Feeling of hopelessness/helplessness
• Deference to caregiver
• No visitors/outings

Forms of emotional abuse that are criminal code offenses:

• Intimidation
• Uttering threats
• Harassing telephone calls

Financial abuse

Financial abuse includes theft or misuse of money or property, withholding funds and/or fraud.

Indicators of financial abuse include:

• Unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills
• Unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from accounts
• Absence of required aides (i.e. walker, wheelchair etc.)
• Refusal by caregiver to consider a move to a care facility when needed
• Opening mail without permission
• Sharing an older person's home without paying fairly for expenses.
• Controlling money matters against an older person's  will.
• No money/food/clothes
• Refusal to spend money without agreement of caregiver or other family member
• Selling property without permission

Forms of financial abuse that are criminal code offenses

• Theft
• Theft by a person holding a power of attorney
• Fraud
• Extortion
• Forgery
• Conversion by trustee
• Criminal breach of trust
• Stopping mail with intent

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse refers to sexual contact that results from threats, force or the inability of the person to give consent, including but not limited to assault, rape and sexual harassment.

Sexual abuse can include a variety of activities such as:

• Intercourse without consent
• Fondling a confused older adult
• Intimately touching an older adult during bathing or other care routines
• Exposing oneself to others
• Inappropriate intimate gaze
• Unwanted sexual comments and behaviours
• Any sexual activity that occurs where one or both parties do not or can not consent

Sexual abuse indicators include:

• Genital infections
• Pain, bruising, bleeding in genital area
• Inappropriate sexual comments by caregivers
• Rope marks or other signs of physical restraint
• Expressions of shame (verbal or body language)

Sexual assault is a criminal code offense.

Neglect

Neglect is defined as the failure of any person having care or custody of older adult to meet his/her needs when the older person is unable to meet their needs themselves.

Neglect comes in many forms such as:

• Withholding or inadequate provision of physical requirements such as food, housing, medicine, physical aids
• Inadequate supervision/safety precautions
• Over or under medicating the older adult
• Denying access to services

Indicators of neglect include:

• The older adult:
  • looks emaciated; and/or malnourished; and/or dehydrated;
  • is confused
  • has an unkempt appearance
  • is under/over medicated
  • lives in a dirty home that smells of feces/urine or is in a state of disrepair.
  • has open skin sores
  • does not go to necessary medical appointments or they are cancelled on a repeated basis
  • is left alone without supervision/ assistance when needed

Forms of neglect that are criminal code offences:

• Breach of duty to provide the necessities of life
• Criminal negligence causing bodily harm or death.

Please note many people who care for older adults are not aware that they may be liable regarding the above offences. For more information go to Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE)

Sometimes neglect may be suspected when in fact the older people neglect themselves.

Self-neglect

Self-neglect is defined as the failure to provide for oneself through inattention or wastefulness. Identification of self neglect depends on an assessment of the older person’s ability to choose a life style that may put them at risk versus a recent change in their intellectual and/or physical abilities that makes it difficult to manage basic daily needs.

Forms of self neglect include:

• Lack of personal hygiene
• Hoarding of money, food, possessions
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Squandering money
• Giving money away indiscriminately and/or excessively
• Failure to pay bills

Indicators of self-neglect:

• Inability to manage finances, activities of daily living, including personal care, shopping, meal preparation, etc.. without adequate assistance
• Refusal of medical attention when needed
• Dangerous living conditions
• Rashes, sores, fecal/urine smell, inadequate clothing, malnourished, dehydrated
• Change in intellectual functioning

If you or someone you know can benefit from our services, call Service Access Unit at 416.595.9618.

 

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