Elder Abuse - Introduction

Elder abuse is harm done to an older person by someone in a special relationship to the older person.

Elder abuse includes:

• physical abuse such as slapping, pushing, beating or forced confinement;

• financial abuse such as stealing, fraud, extortion, and misusing a power of attorney;

• sexual abuse as sexual assault or any unwanted form of sexual activity;

• neglect as failing to give an older person in your care food, medical attention, or other necessary care, or abandoning an older person in your care;

• mental abuse as in treating an older person like a child or humiliating, insulting, frightening, threatening, or ignoring an older person.

Elder abuse sometimes also is a crime under the criminal laws of Canada.

Please, see our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), ACE Publications or Links pages to find additional useful information on this topic.