I live with my daughter and her husband. My son-in-law works very hard, so he is often tired and moody. Lately he has been doing things like pulling my hair and leaving me in my room all day without food when my daughter is out. He even punched me once. I think it must be because he is tired, but is this normal?

No. There is no justification for your son-in-law to treat you this way and you do not have to put up with it. In these circumstances, it's normal to feel violated and harmed. It is important for you to stop his behaviour or remove yourself from the situation. There are agencies that can help you decide how to handle this situation.

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January 2006

see also:

• More Abuse of Older Adults FAQs

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