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Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse is the most common type of abuse reported to the AEA helpline.  It invariably involves identifying something - a person or an object - that matters to an older person and then threatening to endanger it unless the older person complies with demands.  The most common examples are threatening access to grandchildren (if someone lives at home) or denying access to family visits (if someone lives in a residential home).

It is rare for psychological abuse to happen in isolation and often it is linked to financial abuse.  Other terms for psychological abuse would be coercion or intimidation, and these are usually crimes.

What are the signs of psychological abuse

Psychological abuse can have a profound impact on someone's mental health; they can feel trapped, threatened, humiliated, used or a combination of all these.  Most signs therefore relate to someone's mental state, and changes in behaviour.

• Helplessness;
  
  

• Hesitation to talk openly;
  
  

• Implausible stories;
  
  

• Confusion or disorientation;
  
  

• Anger without apparent cause;
  
  

• Sudden change in behaviour;
  
  

• Emotionally upset or agitated;
  
  

• Unusual behaviour (sucking, biting, or rocking);
  
  

• Unexplained fear;
  
  

• Denial of a situation;
  
  

• Extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive;
  
  

• An older person telling you they are being verbally or emotionally abused.

More Information:

What is elder abuse?

Why does it happen?

What are the signs?

What to do and who to contact

Physical

Psychological

Financial 

Sexual

Neglect

Family abuse