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Emotional elder abuse is a verbal or nonverbal act that inflicts emotional pain, anguish, or distress on an older adult. It is sometimes also known as verbal abuse, mental abuse, or psychological abuse.
Emotional elder abuse is almost always accompanied by another form of abuse, such as physical abuse. Emotional abuse of the elderly can range from a simple verbal insult to an extreme form of verbal punishment.
The following are examples of emotional abuse:
Neglect of the elderly can be either physical or emotional. Neglect consists of confinement, isolation, or denial of essential services. The caregiver who neglects the elder refuses or fails to provide or pay for the necessities of life, such as food, water, shelter, clothing, healthcare, medicine, comfort, and safety. Abandonment, a type of neglect, is when the responsible caregiver deserts the vulnerable senior.
Emotional neglect (also known as psychological neglect) is demonstrated by a lack of basic emotional support, respect, and love, such as:
Emotional abuse and neglect are two related forms of elder abuse. Recognizing the signs of these destructive behaviors is the first step towards their elimination.
Within this section, the Bucks Country Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force has provided important tips on how to deal with emotional abuse or neglect for elder adults, their caregivers and the professionals who work with these populations. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.