Each year hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected and exploited by family members and others. Many victims are people who are older, frail, and vulnerable and cannot help themselves and depend on others to meet their most basic needs.

• Physical abuse is the willful infliction of physical pain or injury, e.g., slapping, bruising, sexually molesting, or restraining.

• Sexual abuse is the infliction of non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
• Emotional or psychological abuse is the infliction of mental or emotional anguish, e.g., humiliating, intimidating, or threatening.
• Financial or material exploitation is the improper act or process of an individual, using the resources of an older person, without his/her consent, for someone else's benefit.
• Neglect is the failure of a caretaker to provide goods or services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness, e.g., abandonment, denial of food or health related services.
• Self-neglect is characterized as the behavior of an elderly person that threatens his/her own health or safety.

To Report Elder Abuse

If you suspect elder abuse, or are concerned about the well-being or safety of an older person, report it. Don't hesitate, don't make excuses. Call your state abuse hotline immediately. Click here for State Elder Abuse Hotlines.

If it's an emergency, call the police.

If you suspect nursing home abuse, call your long term care ombudsman. Click here for National Coalition for Nursing Home Reform’s online State Long Term Care Ombudsman Directory.

source National Center on Elder Abuse & Administration on Aging