Emotional Abuse
The National Center on Elder Abuse defines emotional or psychological abuse as the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts. Emotional/psychological abuse 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.
- Being emotionally upset or agitated;
- Being extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive;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.