Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is caused by inflicting physical harm on an older adult.

Physical abuse includes behaviours such as:

• sedating (quietening) a person through over-medication;
• under-medicating a person when drugs are needed for a medical problem;
• holding back or not giving enough food;
• purposely exposing a person to severe weather; or
• physically confining the person for long periods of time.

Signs of Physical Abuse

• marks or physical injuries that cannot be explained (or where the explanation seems unlikely);
• repeated falls;
• medical attention sought from a variety of doctors or clinics;
• injuries that have not received proper medical attention;
• delay in seeking treatment;
• confusion or tiredness from over-medication;
• continued suffering from a medical condition as a result of under-medication;
• loss of mobility as a result of being restrained;
• depression;
• signs of fear of certain family members, friends, or caregivers;
• locks on the doors;
• locks in areas where food is kept; or
• unusual marks on furniture from restraints.

NOTE: Some of these indicators may be present and the older adult is not being abused. These are only possible signs of abuse.

For more information, see CPLEA’s Let’s talk: Elder abuse resource manual.