What are the three major types of Elder Abuse?

• A. Neglect; Abuse; Exploitation
• B. Physical Abuse; Emotional Abuse; Financial Exploitation
• C. Neglect; Physical Abuse; Financial Exploitation
• D. Self-neglect; Exploitation; Neglect

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing the three major ways elder harm is categorized in many practice settings: neglect, abuse, and exploitation.

Neglect refers to failing to meet an elder’s basic needs, such as adequate food, shelter, medical care, safety, or supervision. Abuse covers harming an elder through physical, emotional, or psychological harm, or other mistreatment. Exploitation involves taking advantage of an elder’s resources—for example, financial theft, coercing them to sign things, or misusing powers of attorney.

This trio best reflects the range of harm investigators and caregivers must address: one category for not meeting needs, one for direct harm, and one for improper use of an elder’s assets. The other options mix in specific forms of harm or omit neglect as a standalone category, which isn’t as consistent with common elder abuse frameworks. Self-neglect is important, but it’s usually treated separately from abuse by others, so it isn’t counted among the three major types in this framework.