Final answer:
Fraud is an intentional deception for unlawful gain, while abuse refers to harmful behaviors such as physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment including neglect. Elder abuse includes five major categories and has significant societal impact, with financial abuse overlapping the concept of fraud.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms fraud and abuse have distinct meanings, especially within the context of elder care and exploitation. Fraud refers to the intentional deception or misrepresentation that an individual uses to gain some unlawful benefit, whereas abuse is a broader term that includes causing harm or distress to another person. If we consider elder care, we find examples of both in the types of behaviors that harm older adults. Fraud might involve illegally taking advantage of an elder's financial resources, while abuse could mean physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment, including neglect.
Elder abuse as identified by Dr. Ron Acierno in a 2009 study includes five major categories: physical, sexual, psychological or emotional, neglect, and financial exploitation. The prevalence of elder abuse is worrying, with data indicating that roughly one in ten elderly people has suffered at least one form of abuse. This abuse often goes unreported, having a significant impact not only on the individuals affected but also on families and society as a whole.
Financial abuse, in particular, shares some overlap with fraud as it involves the illegal or improper use of an elder's funds, property, or assets. Although both fraud and abuse can have severe consequences, fraud typically involves more premeditation and is often carried out with financial gain in mind, while abuse encompasses a wider range of harmful behaviors.