How to Report Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is a broadly defined term that refers to several kind of abuse that helpless senior citizens suffer at the hands of those charged with their care. Elder abuse can include isolated instances of abuse or prolonged, repeated behavior. While physical abuse can be easy to detect, other forms of elder abuse can be harder to spot. For this reason, it's important that citizens stay vigilant to spot the warning signs of elder abuse and report all questionable behavior to the proper authorities.

Instructions

Recognize the Different Kinds of Elder Abuse

1. Search for bruises, cuts or burn marks as signs of physical abuse. This can be the easiest form of elder abuse to spot. Look for evidence that a senior citizen has been hit, kicked or restrained forcefully.

2. Ask a senior citizen if her caretaker denies her access to food, television or the telephone as a means to coerce her into certain behavior. This can be a sign of psychological abuse.

3. Investigate a senior citizen's finances to see if he has been the victim of financial abuse. See if any credit cards or checking accounts have been opened in the senior citizen's name without his knowledge. Make sure that his will hasn't been altered to name a fraudulent heir.

4. Check for sexual abuse by asking a senior citizen if she's been coerced into any sexual activity. Strange as it may seem, sexual abuse of senior citizens is being reported with greater frequency. Sexual abuse doesn't just refer to sexual intercourse, but also any unwanted sexual advances.

5. Recognize elder neglect. Denying a senior citizen food, medication, air conditioning or clothing through malicious intent or neglect is punishable under elder abuse laws. Ask questions to see if a caretaker is meeting the basic living needs of senior citizens under his protection.

Take Action to Report Suspected Elder Abuse

1. Remove the senior citizen from the care of an abuser. He'll be much more likely to discuss instances of abuse or neglect once he's removed from the care of his abuser.

2. Get detailed accounts of all offenses she's endured. Keep detailed records. Take photos or videos to substantiate any abuse claims.

3. Alert any family members. Often times, family members are unaware that an elderly relative has been the victim of abuse.

4. Report your findings to the proper authorities. Your local police department may have a special division or contact person for issues of elder abuse.

5. Contact the Department of Health and Human Services to report elder abuse through the Administration on Aging's hotline (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• In some states, the denial of civil or constitutional rights can also qualify as elder abuse, so long as the victim hasn't been declared mentally incapacitated.

• Some states also define self-neglect as a form of elder abuse.

• Presently, there are only 16 states in the country that mandate the reporting of elder abuse crimes. Failure to report elder abuse can be considered a misdemeanor.

Resources

• Administration on Aging's elder abuse hotline