[header] How to identify elder abuse [title] Check for any signs of injury. [step] An elderly person who is being abused might have visible bruising, welts, or other injuries. Physical abuse is when someone uses physical force to inflict bodily harm, injury, or impairment. 
If an elder is being physically abused, she may experience hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, punching, and burning. You may notice signs of injury anywhere, such as on the elderly person's face, arms, legs, abdominal area, or back.