As the prevalence of elder abuse in our society rises, it is important to make yourself aware of ways to protect an elderly person from such abuse so that you can stop your loved one from suffering the abuse.  If you currently are concerned that someone you love is a victim of elder abuse, one important resource available to you is Adult Protective Services.  You can contact Adult Protective Services by calling 1-800-677-1116.  This agency will open up an investigation and determine if elder abuse is occurring to someone you love.

Ways to Prevent Elder Abuse

There are certain risk factors and things to watch out for that you should be aware of that can indicate the presence of abuse, or even just the potential for abuse.  Whether you are a caregiver yourself or your loved on is in a nursing home facility, some risk factors to watch out for are listed below.

If You Are a Caregiver

If you are a caregiver to an elderly person, watch for signs in yourself that you are becoming stressed out or overly burdened.  If you start to notice this happening to you, be sure to reach out to trusted people in your life and the elderly person’s life who can help you with caregiving to give you a break as needed.  It is important to be on the lookout for your own signs of stress since you may be more likely to become a perpetrator of elder abuse yourself if you are overburdened and experiencing high stress related to your ca-retaking duties.

If Your Loved One is Residing in a Nursing Home Facility

If the elderly person in your life is living at a nursing home facility, make sure you stay involved in the process and know what kind of care they are getting.  It is important to address inadequate ca-retaking as soon as you become aware of it.