Quick Escape
Understanding Abuse

Warning Signs

Recognizing the warning signs of abuse is the first step toward safety and healing. At CHANA, we help individuals identify early signs of domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual violence, and teen dating abuse. Learn what to look for, how to respond, and where to get confidential support right.

Elder Abuse
  1. Injuries such as bruises, sprains, broken bones, or scratches — especially when the explanation doesn’t fit the injury
  2. Changes in behavior such as depression, withdrawal, or fear
  3. Changes in regular social activity, such as missing social events
  4. Changes in living arrangements, such as previously uninvolved relatives or family moving into the home
  5. Changes in finances, such as the cancellation of services or unpaid bills
  6. Changes in hygiene
  7. Suicide attempts
  8. Things disappearing from the home
  9. Signs of neglect, such as no food in the house, being left alone for long periods, not having glasses, hearing aids, medications, or proper clothing
  10. An older adult says he or she is being neglected, exploited, or abused. It is important to take them seriously even if blatant signs are not visible.
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Does your partner:

  1. Hurt you by physically hitting, pushing, kicking, and/or shoving you?
  2. Hurt you emotionally by putting you down, insulting you, making you think you are crazy (gaslighting), and/or humiliating you in public or in private?
  3. Threaten to take away your children or limit your contact with them if you tell anyone?
  4. Blame you for his or her violent or abusive behaviors?
  5. Control your finances by emptying your bank account, using money as a bargaining tool, not allowing you to have a credit card, or making you ask for an allowance?
  6. Prevent you from getting or keeping a job?
  7. Pressure or force you into unwanted sex or make all the decisions about your birth control?
  8. Control you by using text from religious books for emotional/sexual abuse, or gain, or use other religious events to control you?
  9. Stalk you by putting spyware on your cellphone/computer or use GPS technology to follow you?
  10. Abuse your pets, including starving or threatening pets?
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  1. Reverting to behavior of younger child (bed-wetting or thumb sucking)
  2. Excessive talk or knowledge about sexual topics
  3. Exhibits adult-like sexualized behavior or promiscuity
  4. Sudden change in behavior, mood, or eating habits
  5. Self-harming behavior (cutting/burning)
  6. Nightmares or other sleep problems
  7. Develops new or unusual fear of certain people or places
  8. Possession of money, toys, or other gifts without reason
  9. Running away from home
  10. Signs of trauma to genitals or sexually transmitted infections
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Some signs of teen violence and abuse are more obvious than others. Here are questions to ask yourself or ask someone you care about:

Does someone ever:

  1. Hurt you by constantly putting you down?
  2. Tell you how to dress or act all the time?
  3. Pressure you to do things that make you uncomfortable?
  4. Call/email/text/message you every few minutes to “check up”?
  5. Check your computer or cell phone?
  6. Prevent you from connecting with family and friends?
  7. Show extreme jealousy?
  8. Have an explosive temper?
  9. Threaten others or self if you don’t do what he or she wants?
  10. Have mood swings?
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Abuse is Never Ok.

  • You are not alone.
  • You are not to blame.
  • You do not deserve to be abused.
  • You have rights.
  • You can get help.

We are dedicated to helping people who have experienced domestic violence, teen dating violence, sexual abuse and elder abuse find safety and healing. Through counseling, legal advocacy, support groups and shelter, CHANA provides a safe and supportive environment for victims, while educating communities as part of the movement to end elder abuse.

At CHANA, we stand with you.