Final answer:
Elder abuse encompasses the crimes of abuse of an elderly or incapacitated adult and abuse of children, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, neglect, and financial abuse or exploitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term you are referring to is elder abuse. Elder abuse encompasses the crimes of abuse of an elderly or incapacitated adult and abuse of children, as stated in the Virginia Code. Elder abuse can take various forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, neglect, and financial abuse or exploitation.
According to a study led by Dr. Ron Acierno, there are five major categories of elder abuse, which include physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, neglect, and financial abuse or exploitation. These categories cover the crimes committed against both elderly or incapacitated adults and children.
Elder abuse can occur when a caretaker intentionally deprives an older person of care or harms them, and can be perpetrated by family members, relatives, friends, health professionals, or employees of senior housing or nursing care.
The term in question likely refers to legal provisions against elder and child abuse in Virginia Code, encompassing physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Types of abuse may vary, with several risk factors affecting the likelihood of its occurrence.
The term you are asking about seems related to legal provisions addressing abuse of the elderly and child abuse. Under Virginia Code, such crimes are likely to encompass a spectrum of offensive behaviors that could include physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. This aligns with patterns of abuse recognized by researchers, including Dr. Ron Acierno, who identifies major categories of elder abuse such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, neglect, and financial abuse.
It is also important to consider that abuse can take many forms and often involves a relationship of trust between the abuser and the victim, being either a caregiver or a family member. Adults and children suffer different types of abuse, and several factors can elevate the risk - for instance, a history of depression in the caregiver, financial dependency on the elder, or previous experiences of being abused can increase the likelihood of both elder and child abuse. Recognizing signs of abuse is pivotal in protecting the vulnerable populations and intervening appropriately.