Elder Abuse is an especially disconcerting form of abuse that targets the elderly, a demographic often more vulnerable due to their age, potential health issues, and dependence on caregivers.
Elder Abuse involves direct harm, which can take various forms such as sexual, emotional, mental, physical, financial distress, or neglect, to an adult aged 65 or older. It may be perpetrated by family members, caregivers, friends, or others who have contact with the elderly..
Identifiable Victim Markers (IVMs):
• Anxiety: Constant worry or fear, often related to the potential for further abuse or the consequences of reporting the abuse.
• Avoidance: Evading situations, places, or individuals that may be associated with the abuse.
• Compliance: Acquiescence to the demands or wishes of the abuser, often out of fear or a desire to prevent further harm.
• Conditioned Beliefs: Development of beliefs shaped by the abuse, such as thinking the abuse is normal or deserved.
• Detachment: Emotional withdrawal from others, possibly as a protective mechanism.
• Dissociation: A psychological response where the victim disconnects from the reality of the abuse, possibly as a coping mechanism.
• Emotionally Numb: A lack of emotional response or feeling, often as a result of prolonged exposure to trauma.
• Nervousness: Persistent nervous or on-edge feelings, especially in situations that remind the victim of the abuse.
• Self-blame: Internalizing the blame for the abuse, believing they caused or deserved it.
• Self-doubt: Doubting their memory, judgment, or interpretation of events, often reinforced by gaslighting techniques used by abusers.
