Enriching members’ lives by honoring their values through high quality,
cost effective long-term care.
Health Promotion Guideline: Abuse Risk
Affected LCD Units: Care Management
Policy #: x.xx or <TBD>
Effective Date: May 29, 2009
Last Review Date: December 2014
Purpose: To recognize signs of abuse related to a member’s potential to be
abused.
Goal: To anticipate, identify and/or prevent abusive behaviors to the member.
Signs of abuse:
Physical
o Unexplained or
questionable injuries
o Restraint marks
o Imprint injuries (i.e. marks
shaped like fingers,
thumbs, hands, belts or
sticks)
o Missing teeth
o Spotty balding (from pulled
hair)
o Eye injuries (black eyes or
detached retinas)
o Vaginal or rectal pain or
bleeding
o Bleeding from the ears,
nose or mouth
Behavioral
o CHANGES in the way
affection is shown,
especially if unusual or
inappropriate
o Suddenly fears being
touched
o Sudden onset of
nightmares
o CHANGES in sleep
patterns; difficulty sleeping
o Sudden regression to
childlike behaviors (bedwetting, thumb-sucking)
o ANY unexplained change in behavior
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Frequent urinary tract
infections or yeast
infections
Painful urination
Abrasions, bleeding, or
bruising in the genital area
New incontinence
Frequent sore throats
Sudden onset of
psychosomatic complaints
(males most frequently
complain of stomach
aches while females most
frequently report
headaches)
Sudden difficulty walking
or sitting
Sudden unusual interest in
or knowledge of sexual
matters (including
excessive masturbation)
Cruelty to animals
Sudden fear of bathing or
toileting
Sudden fear of a person or
place
Depression, withdrawal, or
mood swings
Central: N6654 Rolling Meadows Drive, Fond du Lac, 54937 North: 2701 Larsen Road, Green Bay, 54303
East: 3415 Custer Street, Manitowoc, 54220 West: 500 City Center, Oshkosh, 54901
www.lakelandcaredistrict.org
Signs of neglect:
o Dehydration
o Poor or improper hygiene
o Poor grooming
o Malnourishment/weight
loss
o A smell of urine or feces
on the person
o Clutter, filth, or bad smell
in the home
o Improper sleeping,
cooking, or bathing
arrangements
o Insect/rodent infestations
o Poor skin condition or skin
breakdown
o
o
o
Lack of necessary
adaptive aids such as
glasses, hearing aids, leg
braces walkers etc. or
improper medication
management
Needed medical and
dental care (including the
administration of
prescribed drugs) not
provided
Lack of adequate or
appropriate supervision
Signs of emotional abuse (directed toward the member by others):
o Insults and harassment
o Denial of economic
o Denial of conditions
stability
necessary for physical and
o Denial of rights,
emotional well-being
necessities, privileges, and
o Denial of communication
opportunities
o Denial of right to family life
o Denial of ordinary
o Denial of social interaction
freedoms
and inclusion
Signs of financial abuse:
o Sudden decrease in bank
account balances
o Sudden change in banking
practices
o Sudden problems paying
bills or buying food or
other necessities
o Sudden changes in wills or
other financial documents
o Begins to act very
secretively
o
o
o
o
Considerations in response to potential abuse:
Unexplained
disappearance of money
or valuable possessions
Substandard care being
provided or bills which are
late or unpaid despite the
availability of adequate
financial resources
Concerns expressed by a
person suggesting that he
or she is being exploited
Lack of money early in the
month



Identify the type of abuse: physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, financial or
neglect.
Determine who is/was the abuser: member declines to disclose, family member,
parent, spouse, companion or unrelated person.
Determine when the abuse occurred: current, recent past, distant past or
unknown.
Process:
When signs of abuse are identified, the Interdisciplinary Team staff will:
 Call 911 if there is imminent danger.
 Assess the situation and determine best practice for visits and phone calls with
the member or other involved parties.
 Educate the member and their support systems regarding community resources.
(see list below)
 Make referrals to Adult Protective Services for Elder Abuse/Neglect (EAN) or for
Vulnerable Adult (VA) when appropriate.
 Document the information in the member’s Comprehensive Strength Based
Assessment Health/Cognition/Communication/Restrictive Measures/Depression
worksheet & section summary and on the MCP
 When IDT staff identify a potential risk of abuse for a member, IDT staff will
initiate a CM Supervisor Consult.
Resources: Consider the community resources listed below when addressing an
identified member risk.
Brown County
 Catholic Charities 888-345-5898
 Golden House Family Crisis Center 920-432-4244
 Oneida Nation Domestic Abuse Programs 888-490-2457
 Renaissance Counseling Center 920-465-8230
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-448-4194
Calumet County
 Appleton Police Victim Crisis Unit 920-832-5500
 Harbor House 920-832-1666
 REACH Counseling Services 920-722-8250
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-849-1438
Door County
 Family Services of NE Wisconsin 920-746-8996
 HELP of Door County 800-914-3571
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-746-2321
Fond du Lac County
 St. Agnes Domestic Violence Program 920-926-4290
 ASTOP 800-418-0270
 FAVR 800-852-9571
 Solutions Center 920-923-1700
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-929-7049
Kewaunee County
 Family Violence Center 877-431-4321
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-388-7173
 Violence Intervention 920-837-2424
Manitowoc County
 Manitowoc County Domestic Violence Center 920-684-4661
 Sexual Assault Resource Center 920-684-5770
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-683-4074
Marinette County
 Caring House (Iron Mt., MI) 906-774-1112
 Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services 800-956-6656
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 715-732-7494
Menominee County
 Crime Victim/Witness Program 715-799-5841
 Domestic Abuse Services 715-799-3861
 Family Violence Center 877-431-4321
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 715-526-4608
Oconto County
 Family Violence Center 877-431-4321
 Rainbow House Outreach 800-956-6656
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-834-6832
Outagamie County
 Family Violence Center 920-832-1666
 Harbor House 920-490-3821
 Oneida Nation Domestic Abuse Program 920-832-4615
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-832-4615
Shawano County
 Domestic Abuse Support Center 715-526-3421
 Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Family Center 715-793-4080
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 715-526-4608
Waupaca County
 Family Crisis Center/CAP Services 800-472-3377
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 715-258-6445
Winnebago County
 Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services 800-261-5998
 REACH Counseling Services 920-722-8150
 Oshkosh Police Victim Advocate 920-236-5700
 Victim/Witness Assistance Program 920-236-4977