Domestic Violence Resource Center - Taylorsville, NC - Safe Shelter

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Typically, elder abuse is defined as various types of abuse against someone age 60 and older. Anyone can be an abuser: spouse, partner, child, caretaker, companion, lover or friend.

Older people who are experiencing hurtful behavior are often afraid or ashamed to ask for help. It's very difficult to acknowledge that your son, daughter or spouse is the one hurting you. The Domestic Violence Resource Center’s Elder Abuse Program can help.

24-hour crisis line
828-635-8881
Appropriate referrals
Peer Counseling by trained staff and volunteers
Client Education in issues of empowerment, self-esteem, and safety issues
Emergency Safe Shelter

Signs of Elder Abuse

Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.
Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness, and unusual depression may be indicators of emotional abuse.
Bruises around the breasts or genital area can occur from sexual abuse.
Sudden changes in financial situations may be the result of exploitation.
Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and unusual weight loss are indicators of possible neglect.
Behavior such as belittling, threats, and other uses of power and control by spouses are indicators of verbal or emotional abuse.
Strained or tense relationships, frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person are also signs.

Signs of Self-Neglect

Hoarding
Failure to take essential medications or refusal to seek medical treatment for serious illness
Leaving a burning stove unattended
Poor hygiene
Not wearing suitable clothing for the weather
Confusion
Inability to attend to housekeeping

TACTICS USED BY ABUSERS
Physical Abuse

Slaps, hits, punches
Throws things
Burns
Chokes
Breaks bones
Creates Hazards
Bumps and/or trips
Forces unwanted physical activity
Pinches, pulls hair & twists limbs
Restrains

Sexual Abuse

Makes demeaning remarks about
intimate body parts
Is rough with intimate body parts
during care giving
Takes advantage of physical or
mental illness to engage in sex
Forces sex acts that make victim
feel uncomfortable and/or against
victim's wishes
Forces victim to watch
pornography on television and/or
computer

Psychological Abuse

Withholds affection
Engages in crazy-making behavior
Publicly humiliates or behaves in a
condescending manner

Emotional Abuse

Humiliates, demeans, ridicules
Yells, insults, calls names
Degrades, blames
Uses silence or profanity

CLICK to View the Power Wheel
illustrating Abuse in Later Life

What the Power Wheel shows us:
The outer rim of the wheel defines violence or the threat of violence that is evident in the relationship. The violence may be frequent or very limited, but fear and threats are present. The abuser uses threats to maintain power and control.

Each of the pie pieces represent the different tactics abusers may use in a relationship. Abusers may not necessarily use all of the tactics or they may use one tactic more often. Any combination of tactics can be used to maintain power and control.

This wheel makes a distinction between emotional and psychological abuse. Emotional abuse is specific tactics, such as name-calling, put-downs, yelling and verbal attacks, used to demean the victim. Psychological abuse is the ongoing, manipulative, crazy making behavior that becomes an overriding factor/tactic in abusive relationships. Sometimes it can be very subtle, sometimes it is very intense and invasive. The center represents the goal or the outcome of all of these behaviors...power and control.
Created by the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)

The DVRC is looking for volunteers for our new Elder Abuse Awareness Project. The Elder Abuse Project will begin in October and interested persons can contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sharon Woodard at 828-635-8850.

Erasing Computer History

BE ALERT! If you notice changes in personality or behavior, you should start to question what is going on.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and need help, call these numbers :

Emergency	911
Sheriff's Office	828-632-4658
Magistrate	828-632-4689
Department of Social Services	828-632-1080
24 Hour Crisis Line	828-635-8881
Mental Health	828-632-7005
National Domestic Violence Hotline	1-800-799-SAFE

TACTICS USED BY ABUSERS

Threatening

Threatens to leave and never see
elder again
Threatens to divorce or not
divorce
Threatens to commit suicide
Threatens to institutionalize
Abuses or kills pet or prized
livestock
Destroys or takes property
Displays or threatens with
weapons

Targeting Vunerabilities

Takes or moves walker,
wheelchair, glasses, dentures
Takes advantage of confusion
Makes victim miss medical
appointments

Neglecting

Denies or creates long waits for
food, heat, care or medication
Does not report medical problems
Understands but fails to follow
medical, therapy or safety recommendations
Refuses to dress or dresses
inappropriately

Denies Access to Spiritual
Traditions/Events

Denies access to ceremonial
traditions or church
Ignores religious traditions
Prevents from practicing
traditional ceremonies/events

Using Family Members

Magnifies disagreements
Misleads family members about extent and nature of illnesses/conditions
Excludes or denies access to family
Forces family to keep secrets
Threatens and denies access to grandchildren
Leaves grandchildren with grandparent without honoring grandparents needs and wishes

Ridicules Personal & Cultural Values

Ridicules personal/cultural values
Makes fun of a person's racial background, sexual preference or ethnic background
Entices or forces to lie, commit a crime or do other acts that go against the victim's value system

Isolation

Controls what victim does, whom they see, and where they go
Limits time with friends and family
Denies access to phone or mail
Fails to visit or make contact

Using Privilege

Treats victim like a servant
Makes all major decisions
Ignores needs, wants, desires
Undervalues victim's life experience
Takes advantage of community status, i.e. racial, sexual orientation, gender,
economic

Financial Exploitation

Steals money, titles, or possessions
Takes over accounts and bills and spending without permission
Abuses a power of attorney
Tells elder money is needed to repay drug dealer to stay safe

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