Elder abuse is defined as any form of mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an older person and includes seven categories.

1.  Physical Abuse: force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment and can include assault, battery and inappropriate restraint.

2.  Sexual abuse: non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an older person

3.  Domestic violence: an escalating pattern of violence by an intimate partner where violence is used to exercise power and control.

4.  Psychological abuse: the willful infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation or other verbal or nonverbal conduct.

5. Financial abuse: the illegal or improper use of an older person’s funds, proper4ty or resources.

6. Neglect: the failure of a caregiver to fufill his or her caregiving responsiblities

7. Self-neglect: failure to provide for one’s own essential needs.

*Definitions provided by National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse based in Washington, DC.

As professionals working in healthcare and particularly with the elderly, we play a critical role in identifying and stopping elder abuse and neglect.