Red Flags of Abuse

• Lack of basic hygiene, adequate food, or clean and appropriate clothing
• Lack of medical aids (glasses, walker, teeth, hearing aid, medications)
• Cognitive issues, yet left unsupervised
• Confined to a bed and left without care
• Home is cluttered, filthy, in disrepair, or having fire and safety hazards
• Home is without adequate facilities (stove, refrigerator, heat, cooling, working plumbing, and electricity)
• Untreated pressure “bed” sores (pressure ulcers)

• Lack of amenities victim could afford
• Vulnerable elder/adult “voluntarily” giving excessive financial reimbursement/gifts for needed care and companionship
• Caregiver controls elder’s money but fails to provide for elder’s needs
• Vulnerable elder/adult has signed asset transfers (Power of Attorney, bank account, trust, new will, etc.) but is unable to comprehend the transaction or what it means

• Unexplained or uncharacteristic changes in behavior, such as withdrawal from normal activities
• Unexplained changes in alertness, depression
• Caregiver is isolating the elder (doesn’t let anyone into the home or speak to the elder)
• Caregiver is verbally aggressive or demeaning, controlling or uncaring

• Inadequately explained fractures, bruises, welts, cuts, sores or burns
• Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases