Physical abuse is the most visible, and therefore the easiest type of elder abuse to recognize. Unfortunately, there are many other ways that the elderly can be taken advantage of and exploited. If you notice any of these conditions, contact Christopher Stienburg, your Toronto Elder Abuse lawyer:

Physical abuse means inflicting physical pain or injury upon an older adult.

Sexual abuse means touching, fondling, intercourse, or any other sexual activity with an older adult, when the older adult is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened, or physically forced.

Emotional abuse means verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation.

Confinement means restraining or isolating an older adult, other than for medical reasons.

Passive neglect is a caregiver’s failure to provide an older adult with life’s necessities, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

Willful deprivation means denying an older adult medication, medical care, shelter, food, a therapeutic device, or other physical assistance, and exposing that person to the risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm—except when the older, competent adult has expressed a desire to go without such care.

Financial exploitation means the misuse or withholding of an older adult’s money by another person. Someone could be misappropriating property, bank account, and credit card information. Carefully examine bank statements and credit card statements; are there large, unexplained purchases, for items that your loved one did not order?

Facts on Abuse of Seniors, published by the Government of Canada.