Oregon Everyday Heroes
 
 
Signs and symptoms of physical abuse include but are not limited to:
  1. •bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations, and rope marks;
  2. •bone fractures, broken bones, and skull fractures;
  3. •open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing;
  4. •sprains, dislocations, and internal injuries/bleeding;
  5. •broken eyeglasses/frames, physical signs of punishment, and signs of being restrained;
  6. •laboratory findings of medication overdose or under utilization of prescribed drugs;
  7. •an elder's report of being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated;
  8. •an elder's sudden change in behavior; and
  9. •the caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see an elder alone.
  10.  
Signs and symptoms of emotional/psychological abuse include but are not limited to:
  1. •being emotionally upset or agitated;
  2. •being extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive;
  3. •unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia (e.g., sucking, biting, rocking); and
  4. •an elder's report of being verbally or emotionally mistreated.

Signs and symptoms of sexual abuse include but are not limited to:
  1. •bruises around the breasts or genital area;
  2. •unexplained venereal disease or genital infections;
  3. •unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding;
  4. •torn, stained, or bloody underclothing; and
  5. •an elder's report of being sexually assaulted or raped.
  6.  
Signs and symptoms of neglect and/or self-neglect include but are not limited to:
  1. •dehydration, malnutrition, untreated bed sores, and poor personal hygiene;
  2. •unattended or untreated health problems;
  3. •unsafe living condition/arrangements (e.g. improper wiring, no heat, no running water);
  4. •unsanitary living conditions (e.g. dirt, fleas, lice on person, soiled bedding, fecal/urine smell, no functioning toilet);
  5. •grossly inadequate housing or homelessness:
  6. •inappropriate and/or inadequate clothing, lack of the necessary medical aids (e.g., eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures); and
  7. •an elder's report of being mistreated.
 
Signs and symptoms of financial or material exploitation include but are not limited to:
  1. •sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by a person accompanying the elder;
  2. •the inclusion of additional names on an elder's bank signature card;
  3. •unauthorized withdrawal of the elder's funds using the elder's ATM card;
  4. •abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents;
  5. •unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions;
  6. •substandard care being provided or bills unpaid despite adequate financial resources;
  7. •discovery of an elder's signature being forged for financial transactions or for the titles of his/her possessions;
  8. •appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming rights to an elder's affairs or assets;
  9. •unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family;
  10. •the provision of services that are not necessary; and
  11. •an elder's report of financial exploitation.
What are the Signs of Elder Abuse?