Often, the caregivers that become abusive are the last people you would ever suspect of caregiver abuse. If you know an elder that is being cared for by a loved one, please watch for some of the common red flags of caregiver stress and elder abuse.
Red Flags from the Caregiver include:
- Expressing fears that he or she will become violent
- Low self-esteem
- Complaints of not receiving help or support from other family members
- Complaints of being the only one willing or able to help
- Views caregiving as a burden
- Has old anger for the care receiver, most often stemming from the relationship between the two prior to the caregiving situation. For example, an adult child who did not get along with her mother, or was abused as a child by the one he or she is caring for now.
- Experiences burn out
- Depression
Red Flags from the Care Receiver Include:
- Aggressive behavior
- Verbally abusive to the caregiver
- Dementia or other mental challenges that cause the elder to act out inappropriately
If you suspect elder abuse at the hands of a caregiver, it is often best to let the authorities investigate and assess the situation, especially if the abuse is happening in your own family. Most counties have Adult Protective Services, which investigates suspected abuse and neglect much the same as child abuse.
