Physical abuse: Unexplained injuries such as bruises, fractures, open wounds, sprains, dislocations, unexplained internal bleeding, and the like, can mean the person is suffering from physical abuse. Improper medical care can result in bedsores concussions, strokes, and other injuries. Medication, both over and under-dosing can also be considered physical abuse. Any kind of hitting, slapping, kicking, or similar mistreatment is considered to be physical abuse as well.

Verbal, mental, and emotional abuse: These forms of abuse are defined as the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or non-verbal acts. Psychological abuse includes, but is not limited to, verbal assaults, threats, insults, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment. Signs and symptoms of emotional abuse can include being emotionally upset or agitated, regressive behavior such as sucking, biting, rocking. The victim may also become withdrawn, non-communicative or non-responsive.

Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse is defined as any non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person. Non-consensual sexual contact also includes contact with any person incapable of giving consent. Sexual contact is defined as any unwanted touching, all types of sexual battery and assault, rape, sodomy, forced nudity, and being photographed in any sexually compromising situation. Signs of sexual abuse can include bruises around breasts and genital areas, torn, stained, or bloodied underclothing, unexplained infections or bleeding of the genital area. A victim may or may not report being sexually assaulted or raped.

Exploitation: Exploitation can be financial or material and is defined as the illegal or improper use of an elderly person’s funds, property or assets. This includes, but is not limited to, cashing an elderly person’s checks without permission, forging a signature, misusing or stealing another person’s money or possessions, coercing or deceiving an older person into signing documents, and the improper use of the power of conservatorship, guardianship, or power of attorney. Signs of financial irregularities may include sudden changes in bank account or banking practices; abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents, the unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions, unpaid bills despite adequate funds, the provision of unnecessary services, the discovery of forged signatures, a lack of care despite the availability of resources, or an elder’s report of financial exploitation.