World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Signs of emotional and physical abuse in elder people

As you age and your health and emotional stability deteriorate, you start becoming dependent on others for living a good life. But very few people are lucky to have their children and family members around them to take care of. And in many families, elderly people are adjusted in the household only because they have some property or asset to their name.

Moreover, the elderly are even mentally and at times physically abused to ensure that they do exactly what they are being told.

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day today, know about the signs of emotional and physical abuse that elderly people around you are going through. It will help you to stop the abuse against elderly people and help them lead a good life.

Signs that old people are suffering from emotional abuse

Old people who are going through emotional abuse and turmoil try to act okay in front of others but they do show certain signs. Most of them are afraid of the caregivers or look withdrawn/depressed all the time.

If you have known them for some time you can immediately identify the change in their behaviour like there are changes in their sleeping or eating patterns, they may even try to harm themselves due to anxiety or low self-esteem.

These people always try to hide their mental state from others and avoid direct eye contact and neglect themselves. They even stop being in contact with friends and family members.

Signs of physical abuse

Incidents of physical abuse to old people are on the rise in India. Signs such as restricted movement, pain, bite marks, cuts, scratches, burns, bruises, sedation, anxiety, stories of injuries, and unexplained accidents are an indication that someone is physically abusing the elderly person.

If you ever come across such signs you can either talk to the caregiver and ensure that the treatment towards the elderly improves or talk to the concerned/legal authorities to stop this abusive treatment towards the elder person.