What is Psychological Abuse?

Emotional or psychological abuse is defined as the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts. Emotional/psychological abuse includes but is not limited to verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment.

In addition, treating an older person like an infant; isolating an elderly person from his/her family, friends, or regular activities; giving an older person the "silent treatment;" and enforced social isolation are examples of emotional/psychological abuse.

Signs and symptoms of emotional/psychological abuse include but are not limited to:

• Being emotionally upset or agitated
• Being extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive
• Unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia (e.g., sucking, biting, rocking)
• An elder's report of being verbally or emotionally mistreated