How to Report Abuse of the Elderly in Texas
The state of Texas takes elderly abuse very seriously. People who know about or suspect abuse, exploitation or neglect of an elderly person---age 65 or older---but do not report it may be liable for a Class B misdemeanor. A person reporting abuse to the Texas Adult Protective Services Unit (APS) is immune from criminal or civil liability. Every effort is made to keep confidential the name of the person reporting the abuse, although some reporting methods require the person to fill out detailed personal information.
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Things You'll Need
- Information about the abuse, the abused and the abuser
- Telephone and/or a computer and Internet connection
Instructions
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Call 911 or local law enforcement if the abuse is an emergency situation. Texas defines an emergency situation as one where the elderly person is in immediate danger of neglect or abuse that could result in a serious injury or death.
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Prepare for reporting non-emergency elderly abuse by collecting as much of the following information as possible: the name of person being abused and the name of the abuser(s); approximate ages of everyone involved; address and phone number where the abused person lives, and where the abuse is taking place; and a description of the abuse. Authorities will request your knowledge of the abused person's living conditions, how the abuse was discovered, details of any abuse actually witnessed and information about others who might have knowledge of the abuse.
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Report suspected abuse using the Texas Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Reporting System available electronically at www.txabusehotline.org. This system requires the person reporting the abuse to create a detailed log-in profile that is attached to the abuse record.
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Call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 if there is insufficient data to complete the electronic report or if receiving an email confirmation of the report may put the abused or the person reporting the abuse in jeopardy.
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Remain anonymous when reporting elderly abuse by using the Texas Abuse hot line at 800-252-5400.
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Report abuse taking place in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, state institutions and facilities, home health and adult day care businesses and community centers by calling 800-458-9858.
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Tips & Warnings
Neglect includes starvation, unsanitary home conditions, dehydration, no heat or air conditioning, no running water, and no medical care or electricity.
Exploitation includes misusing the finances and other resources of the elderly person.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit elderly lady image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Linda S DeLaney
Jan 15, 2011
Two years ago I witnessed my mother (who was just given 6 months to live) being conned by a couple who were "taking care of her". I begged my mother to let me come or to come home with me to Florida. I saw what was going on and it truly frightened me. These people were of questionable backgrounds and certainly didn't seem honest or loyal to my mother. I reported them to the local sheriff's dept and also went the the Elder Abuse office at Social Services. After a couple of days, my friend, Malinda and I, were told we were terribly wrong, my mother was perfectly happy in this situation. This caused my mother not to speak to me for quite a while. After this happened Malinda happened to stop by my mom's house and my mother was completely out of it, Malinda picked her up and took her to her doctor who said she was overdosed and had to be taken to the hospital right away. The only...
