Elder Abuse

Question 1

Definitions
Elder Abuse:
According to MT Law?

Answer 1

“Elder abuse is the infliction of physical or mental injury; or (b) the deprivation of food, shelter, clothing, or services necessary to maintain the physical or mental health of an older person or persons with a developmental disability with lawful authority.”

Question 2

Define the following:
1. Elder /Senior Citizens?

2. Vulnerable Adult?
3. Women are ___% more likely to be abused than men

Answer 2

1. a person who is 60+ years of age or older
2. person age 60 or older (18 & older if person has disability) who is being abused neglected or exploited
3. 35

Question 3

Name the most common perpetrator of elder abuse in order of prevalance? 4

Answer 3

1. 33% of alleged perpetrators are adult children
2. 22% are other family members
3. 11% are spouses/partners
4. 16% are strangers

Close to 90% are known by victims

Question 4

Who are the Victims
– Risk Factors?
6

Answer 4

1. Age
2. Social isolation
3. Extreme dependence and frailty
4. Severe mental and/or physical illness
5. Female gender
6. Low to modest financial resources

Question 5

Barriers to Reporting Elder Abuse

5

Answer 5

1. Fear
2. Protecting the Abuser
3. Social Isolation
4. Self-Blame/Denial
5. Inability to Report (mental and physical impairments)

Question 6

Elder Abuse Red Flags in senior citizens

8

Answer 6

1. Personality changes
2. Sudden physical changes in appearance and abilities
3. They seem nervous or afraid
4. Confusion about transactions or withdrawals
5. Unable to remember signing documents
6. Property is transferred or missing
7. Level of care they are receiving is inconsistent with their resources
8. Signs of substance abuse

Question 7

What are sweetheart swindles?

Answer 7

Uses loneliness and the perception that something is missing in the victim’s life to exploit

Question 8

1. What is physical abuse?

2. What problems stop this abuse from being discovered? 3

Answer 8

1. physical force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment. It includes assault, battery, and inappropriate restraint.
2. • Behavioral – Delay between onset of injury and seeking medical care
   • Victims taken to different medical facilities for treatment
   • Explanations for injuries differ

Question 9

1. What is domestic violence?

2. Which situations can affects elders in this regard? 2

Answer 9

1. Domestic violence is an escalating pattern of violence or intimidation by an intimate partner, which is used to gain power and control.
2. • Domestic violence grown old
   • Late onset domestic violence

Question 10

1. Sexual abuse defined as?

2. Indicators?

Answer 10

1. is non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an older person
2. Indicators: Fear of being touched
   Strange bruising, unexplained STD

Question 11

1. What is neglect defined as?

2. Self neglect?

Answer 11

1. Neglect
   failure to fulfill a person’s obligations or duties to an elder. Can be willful/intentional such as withholding food/medicine or unintentional (caregiver burnout)
2. Self neglect
   failure by oneself to provide goods or services to avoid serious threat to physical or mental health

Question 12

Why Do People Hoard?

5

Answer 12

1. Extreme emotional attachment
2. Difficulty with decision making
3. Perfectionism
4. Responsibility
5. Fear of making a mistake

Question 13

Hoarding

Consequences? 5

Answer 13

1. condition of the home may prevent repairs from taking place
2. possible loss of heat, running water, electricity, and refrigeration
3. social service agencies not being able to provide services
4. greater risk for falls
5. medical emergency teams unable to gain access to home

Question 14

Psychological /verbal abuse
What is it?

Indicators of this? 2

Answer 14

1. Infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, or other verbal or nonverbal conduct
2. • weight loss,
   • no eye contact when asking questions

Question 15

Fianancial Exploitation

1. What is it?
2. Indicators?

Answer 15

1. Illegal or improper use of an older persons funds, property or resources
2. Indicators: Concerned about costs

Question 16

Factors that May Affect Mental Capacity

7

Answer 16

1. Illness or Disease 
Treatable Factors
2. Poor Nutrition/Malnutrition 
3. Dehydration
4. Depression
5. Medication Interactions
6. Sleep Deprivation
7. Time of Day

Question 17

What is undue influence?

Answer 17

“Persuasion, pressure, or influence short of actual force, but stronger than mere advice, that so overpowers the dominated party’s free will or judgment that he or she cannot act intelligently and voluntarily, but acts, instead, subject to the will or purposes of the dominating party.”

Black’s Law Dictionary

Question 18

UI – How Does It Work

6 factors

Answer 18

1. The victim and exploiter are often in an ongoing relationship
2. Exploiters may target and groom their victims
3. Exploiters are generally subtle in their exploitation of their victims
4. Exploiters are often charming manipulators
5. Exploiters justify their actions through various excuses
6. Victims often appear as willing participants

Question 19

What is the definition of consent?

Answer 19

Consent is when someone accepts or agrees to something that somebody else proposes. For consent to be legal and proper – the person consenting needs to have sufficient mental capacity to understand the implications and ramifications of his or her actions.

Question 20

Legal Elements of Consent? 3

Answer 20

1. Mental Capacity
2. Knowledge of the true nature of the act/transaction
3. Act freely and voluntarily

Question 21

Dementia & Alzheimer’s: Opportunities for Financial Exploitation?
3

Answer 21

1. Unable to report
2. May not be believed
3. May not be able to recognize financial exploitation

Question 22

Polyvictimization: definition?

Answer 22

Exposure to multiple types of violence or victimization

Question 23

What is guardianship?

Answer 23

is a legal process, utilized when a person can no longer make or communicate safe or sound decisions about his/her person and/or property or has become susceptible to fraud or undue influence. Because establishing a guardianship may remove considerable rights from an individual, it should only be considered after alternatives to guardianship have proven ineffective or are unavailable.

Question 24

Adult Protective Services
Authorized & budgeted through the state (6 regions around state)
Reporting guidelines:
3

Answer 24

1. Abuse does not need to be confirmed
2. Provide as much detail as possible
3. Reports are confidential & reporter not disclosed to victim, family or abuser

Question 25

What happens once you make a referral to Adult Protective Services? 10

Answer 25

1. Conduct Investigation 2. Solicit Victim Cooperation 3. Conduct Interviews 4. Functional and Cognitive 5. Assessments 6. Releases of Information 7. Review Records 8. Compile Evidence 9. Discuss/Coordinate Services 10. Refer to Law Enforcement (if needed)