Vulnerable Adult

Abuse occurring to seniors and vulnerable adults may be shown in different behaviors rather than the traditional pushing, kicking, shoving, etc., emotional or sexual abuse. Furthermore, there may or may not be a “partner” who is responsible for the abuse.

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Abuse may occur in forms such as:

Material Abuse: The misuse of property or financial resources. Material abuse includes financial deception, diverting income, mismanagement of funds and taking money against a person’s will.

Physical Abuse: The willful infliction of physical pain or injury or unreasonable confinement on an adult. It includes, but is not limited to: direct beatings, sexual assault, pushing, choking, slapping, unreasonable physical restraint, or pain with no physical marks.
Emotional abuse: Using demeaning statements, threats, harassment, or isolation from family and friends.

Neglect: is a significant danger to a person’s physical or mental health. The individual who takes care of the other person is unable or has failed to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, or medical or dental care.

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How Can I Recognize Abuse?
There are various clues present when attempting to recognize abuse. The following is a list which includes signs of abuse but it is not limited to this:

Neglect:	Rashes, sores, inadequate clothing, malnourishment, untreated medical condition, suicidal acts, inability to manage daily activity and/or personal finance.
Physical Abuse:	Bruises, cuts, injury incompatible with history, burns.
Emotional Abuse:	Helplessness, anger, fear, withdrawal, depression, denial, agitation.
Financial Abuse:	Inappropriate activity in bank account, unusual looking signatures, numerous unpaid bills, lack of amenities, missing personal belongings.

Who Can be the Abuser?
Domestic abuse does not always occur from a significant other. Sometimes the abuser may be a son, daughter, niece, nephew, caregiver, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, mother, father, etc…

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Is This Just Caregiver Stress?
Individuals do blame caregiver stress on the abusive behaviors that they exhibit. But the two should never be confused. They are not the same and caregiver stress should never be an excuse for someone to be treated poorly.

What If I am, or Someone I Know is, Being Abused?
If you are experiencing abuse, the Family Center, Inc. can help you. We have many services, such as individual counseling, support groups, legal and personal advocacy, outreach, home visits, donation area, food pantry, and self-sufficiency assistance.

The Family Center, Inc. is not a reporting agency. However, if you want to report elder abuse, a telephone help-line has been established in every county for reporting suspected cases.

In Wood County, please call social services at (715) 421-8600.

Please Call if You
Suspect Abuse

Contact: Robin
Family Center
715-421-1511

Or

Wood County
Social Services
715-421-8600

The Family Center, Inc. • 500 25th Street North • Wisconsin Rapids WI 54494
24hr. Phone: 715-421-1511 • Fax: 715-421-3036