Which form of elder abuse involves a violation by family members?

Family or Domestic Elderly Abuse specifically refers to instances where elderly individuals are harmed or mistreated by their family members or caregivers. This form of abuse can take various forms, including physical, emotional, or psychological abuse, and is typically characterized by a power dynamic where the abuser exploits their relationship with the elder.

Recognizing this form of elder abuse is crucial because it often occurs in the intimacy of the home, making it less visible to outsiders and harder to detect. Understanding that family members can be perpetrators highlights the complexity of family dynamics and the potential for conflict and violence within them, especially as elders may rely on these individuals for care and support.

This form of elder abuse contrasts with others, such as institutional abuse, which occurs in care facilities, or financial abuse, which specifically targets an elder's financial resources. Self-neglect does not involve another person violating the elder; rather, it concerns the elder's inability to care for themselves. Thus, family or domestic elderly abuse is uniquely identified by the involvement of family members in the act of abuse.