Red Flags of Elder Abuse (2024)

Warning signs of physical abuse

Bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations, or rope marks
Bone fractures, broken bones, or skull fractures
Open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing
Sprains, dislocations, or internal injuries/bleeding
Broken eyeglasses/frames, physical signs of being subjected to punishment, or signs of being restrained
Laboratory findings of medication overdose or under-utilization of prescribed drugs
An older adult’s sudden change in behavior
The caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see or speak to an older adult alone
An older adult’s report of being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated

Sudden changes in bank accounts or banking practices, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by a person accompanying the older adult
The inclusion of additional names on an older adult’s bank signature card
Unauthorized withdrawal of the older adult’s funds using their ATM card
Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions
Provision of substandard care or bills left unpaid despite the availability of adequate financial resources
Discovery of a forged signature for financial transactions or for the titles of the older adult’s possessions
Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming their rights to an older adult’s property or possessions
Unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family
The provision of services that are not necessary
An older adult’s report of financial exploitation
Unexplained credit card charges

Dehydration, malnutrition, untreated bed sores, and poor personal hygiene
Unattended or untreated health problems
Hazardous or unsafe living conditions/arrangements (e.g., improper wiring, no heat, or no running water)
Unsanitary and unclean living condition (e.g., dirt, fleas, lice on person, soiled bedding, fecal/urine smell, inadequate clothing)
The desertion of an older adult at a hospital, a nursing facility, or other similar institution, or a shopping center or other public location
An older adult’s report of being neglected or abandoned
Lack of food in the refrigerator or cupboards

Bruises around the breasts or genital area
Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections
Unexplained vagin*l or anal bleeding
Changes in an older adult’s demeanor, such asshowing fear or becoming withdrawn when a specific person is around
Evidence of p*rnographic material being shown to an older adult with diminished capacity
Blood found on sheets, linens or an older adult’s clothing
An older adult’s report of being sexually assaulted or raped