ABUSE

Plautus once asked, "Do you never look at yourself when you abuse another person?" How come abusers never seem to view the abused as themselves? How come we as sympathizers fail to really view from the persepective of the abuser and the abused? Of a truth, abusers acannoot be favoured but then some of them are not mentally normal and have no power over their own mind. What then is abuse? Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse expresses exploitation, stronger power, inequality, oppression, enslavement, manipulation, cheating to mention but a few. As a result of this, abuse cannot but bring along with it certain warning signs and symptoms that would have been giving red lights before the real abuse; some of these are anger, anxiety, neglect, shouts, and others. There are various types of abuse, over a hundred actually. But then, those types can still be classified into forms such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, child abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse, economic abuse,neglect, abandonment, self neglect. Each abuse has signs to show when it has happened. Signs of physical abuse: bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations, and rope marks broken bones open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing broken eyeglasses/frames, or any physical signs of being punished or restrained laboratory findings of either an overdose or under dose medications individual's report being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated vulnerable adult's sudden change in behavior the caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see a vulnerable adult alone Signs of sexual abuse: bruises around the breasts or genital area unexplained venereal disease or genital infections unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding torn, stained, or bloody underclothing an individual's report of being sexually assaulted or raped Signs of mental mistreatment/emotional abuse: being emotionally upset or agitated being extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia (e.g., sucking, biting, rocking) nervousness around certain people an individual's report of being verbally or mentally mistreated Signs of neglect: dehydration, malnutrition, untreated bed sores and poor personal hygiene. Unattended or untreated health problems. Hazardous or unsafe living condition (e.g., improper wiring, no heat or running water). Unsanitary and unclean living conditions (e.g., dirt, fleas, lice on person, soiled bedding, fecal/urine smell, inadequate clothing). An individual's report of being mistreated. Signs of self-neglect: dehydration, malnutrition, untreated or improperly attended medical conditions, and poor personal hygiene hazardous or unsafe living conditions unsanitary or unclean living quarters (e.g., animal/insect infestation, no functioning toilet, fecal or urine smell) inappropriate and/or inadequate clothing, lack of the necessary medical aids grossly inadequate housing or homelessness inadequate medical care, not taking prescribed medications properly Signs of exploitation: sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money adding additional names on bank signature cards unauthorized withdrawal of funds using an ATM card abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions bills unpaid despite the money being available to pay them forging a signature on financial transactions or for the titles of possessions sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming rights to a vulnerable adult’s possessions unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family providing services that are not necessary. individual's report of exploitation. Signs of abandonment: deserting a vulnerable adult in a public place. deserting a vulnerable adult in his/her own home or living space. individual's report of being abandoned.