Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney

Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit

Sherry Boston, District Attorney

Possible indicators of abuse, neglect, or exploitation

Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
The following descriptions are not necessarily proof of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. But they may be clues that a problem exists.

Physical Signs
  • Injury that has not been cared for properly
  • Injury that is inconsistent with explanation for its cause
  • Pain from touching
  • Cuts, puncture wounds, burns, bruises, welts
  • Dehydration or malnutrition without illness-related cause
  • Poor coloration, sunken eyes or cheeks
  • Inappropriate administration of medication
  • Soiled clothing or bed
  • Frequent use of hospital or health care/doctor-shopping
  • Lack of necessities such as food, water, or utilities
  • Lack of personal effects, pleasant living environment, personal items
  • Forced isolation
Behavioral Signs
  • Fear
  • Anxiety, agitation
  • Anger
  • Isolation, withdrawal
  • Depression
  • Non-responsiveness, resignation, ambivalence
  • Contradictory statements, implausible stories
  • Hesitation to talk openly
  • Confusion or disorientation
Signs of Caregiver Abuse
  • Prevents elder from speaking to or seeing visitors
  • Anger, indifference, aggressive behavior toward elder
  • History of substance abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior, or family violence
  • Lack of affection toward elder
  • Flirtation or coyness as possible indicator of inappropriate sexual relationships
  • Conflicting accounts of incidents
  • Withholds affection
  • Talks of elder as a burden
Signs of Financial Abuse
  • Frequent expensive gifts from elder to caregiver
  • Elder’s personal belongings, papers, credit cards missing
  • Numerous unpaid bills
  • When elder seems incapable of writing will
  • Caregiver’s name added to bank account and/or elder unaware of monthly income
  • Elder signs on loan
  • Frequent checks made out to cash
  • Unusual activity in bank account
  • Irregularities on tax return
  • Elder unaware of reason for appointment with banker or attorney
  • Caregiver’s refusal to spend money on elder
  • Signatures on checks or legal documents that do not resemble elder’s signature