How To Report Elder Abuse

If you are in a dangerous or life-threatening abuse situation, dial 911 immediately for help. If your life is not in immediate danger, there are non-emergency hotlines specifically for reporting elder abuse.

Unfortunately, elder abuse happens regularly. One in 10 people over age 60 have experienced abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Knowing multiple resources to report elder abuse can best aid you should you find yourself in a difficult situation.

If you feel frightened to report the elder abuse yourself, confide in a loved one about your situation and ask them to make a report for you. There are several contact options to report elder abuse.

Some elder and disability laws vary by state. If you want to report elder abuse to your specific state department, there are other options.

You can contact one of the national hotlines for elder abuse or refer to NAPSA’s state program list with information to report elder abuse to your specific state’s hotline.

Knowing what information is important to report will save you time and ensure you connect with the correct resources for your situation.

Always provide as much information as possible when reporting elder abuse. Generally, when reporting any type of abuse, you need to report how long the abuse has been occurring and who is committing the abuse. Additional information to report changes depending on the type of elder abuse suffered.

It is important — even if you have no proof of abuse or have excess information — to always report your abuse. The National Center on Elder Abuse finds that, for every case of elder abuse reported, 24 cases go unreported. Your health and safety matters. If you suspect you are being taken advantage of or are being neglected, report the abuse along with any information and documentation you have.

If you are reporting on behalf of an abuse victim, include the victim’s contact information so the caseworker can follow up for safety reasons. If there is physical abuse, like bruises or broken bones, ‌include details in your report.

The victim’s mental condition should also be noted. In severe cases, mental abuse can lead to suicide. Having this information documented can indicate to a caseworker the time sensitive nature of a case, and whether it’s essential to call 911 instead of waiting.

The victim’s relationship to the abuser is also important. If they live with the abuser, the case will likely be prioritized.

If possible, provide the alleged perpetrator’s contact information and relationship to the victim in your report. It is not required to have this information to report abuse, but it may be important for the outcome of the case investigation.

While most abusers are family and friends with elder abuse, there are also strangers who abuse older adults. Typically, strangers abuse older adults financially through online scams. It is okay to file a report without knowing much information about your abuser.

Reporting the type of abuse is crucial to be connected to the right resources. You should also report who else knows about the abuse. Many times, abusers target older adults with memory issues. This can make it difficult to show evidence of the abuse, but having multiple witnesses to back up the abuse can help the case.

While having the reporter’s contact information is beneficial, it is not required. Elder abuse information can be reported anonymously.

After you report elder abuse, local Adult Protective Services (APS) assigns a caseworker to conduct an investigation. If your caseworker finds your situation violates your state’s elder abuse laws, action may begin within 24 hours of an initial report. Local law enforcement may become involved as necessary.

If no elder abuse law was broken, the caseworker will still work with community agencies and social services to provide assistance. This can include arranging a new housing option for you or the victim or offering medical services, legal services and other protective measures.

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) provides resource links to help with reporting elder abuse and mistreatment. Some are more focused on strictly reporting, while others center on educating the public to recognize signs of abuse and information needed to report elder abuse.

If you need additional resources for your specific state, the National Center on Elder Abuse provides an interactive map to connect you to each state’s directory of reporting phone numbers, government agencies and state laws.