Emotional or Psychological Abuse 

Emotional or psychological abuse is defined as the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts.

This includes but is not limited to verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment. In addition, treating an older person like an infant; isolating an elderly person from his/her family, friends, or regular activities; giving an older person the "silent treatment;" and enforced social isolation are examples of emotional/psychological abuse.

Signs and symptoms of emotional/psychological abuse include but are not limited to:

•  being emotionally upset or agitated;

•  confusion or dementia;

•  being extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive;

•  unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia (e.g., sucking, biting, rocking); and

•  an elder's report of being verbally or emotionally mistreated.

Physical and Sexual Abuse 

Neglect, Self-Neglect, and Abandonment

Financial or Material Exploitation