Physical Abuse

“Physical abuse” means the willful action of inflicting bodily injury or physical mistreatment. Physical abuse includes but is not limited to, striking with or without an object, slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, or prodding.

Signs of physical abuse include:

• bruises, black eyes, welts, cuts;
• broken or fractured bones;
• untreated injuries in various stages of healing;
• unexplained injuries;
• broken eyeglasses/frames; or
• sudden change in behavior or unexplained withdrawal from normal activity;
• signs of being restrained (bruising or unexplained marks on wrists, rope burn);
• the vulnerable adult downplays injuries;
• the vulnerable adult is reluctant to go to a doctor or changes doctors often; or
• the vulnerable adult reports being harmed.