Unit 2

Common Characteristics of Abusive Caregivers

• Substance Abuse
• Ongoing mental illness or emotional problems
• Lack of caregiver experience
• Reluctance of caregiver
• History of abuse - more common in families with established patterns or histories of violent behavior.
• Dependency - often the caregiver is dependent on the elder for financial support.
• Very friendly and helpful.
• Personality traits including:
  • Exhibiting hypercritical and impatient behavior
  • Displaying unsympathetic attitude toward the needs of others
  • Blaming the elderly person for caregiving problems
  • Having an unrealistic view of caregiving and lack the understanding of what the adult needs
  • Loss of self-control
  • Feeling of losing their independence