How to Report Elderly Abuse: Hotline and Other Resources

Every year, thousands of older Americans are abused, neglected, or exploited.

Studies show that as many as 15% of Americans over the age of 60 will experience some form of elder abuse. Unfortunately, that number is only expected to increase as the global population of people over the age of 60 continues to grow.

If you believe that a senior family member, friend, or neighbor is being abused physically, emotionally, or financially simply reporting what you’ve seen to the proper authorities can go a long way. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to report unsafe living conditions of the elderly by utilizing your local elder abuse hotline and how you can find other tools for elder abuse reporting.

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How to Report Elderly Abuse or Neglect

Reporting elderly abuse and neglect is likely more simple than you think. With a little research using the tools in this post, you can find the contact info for a local, state, or national organization which can assist you in making a report to the appropriate elderly neglect hotline. You don’t need to be able to personally prove the abuse for an investigation to occur and, in most cases, reports can be made anonymously.

If you’re recognizing signs of elder abuse or neglect, start by talking to your senior citizen in question alone. Voice your concerns about their wellbeing in a way that is calm, empathetic, and free of judgement before offering to get them help. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be to get help.

As always, if you believe someone is in immediate danger, your first step should always be to call 911.

Types of Elder Abuse and Neglect

From physical abuse to exploitation, seniors are not immune to any harmful behaviors from care providers. Here is a closer look at some types of abuse and neglect elderly people can experience.

Physical abuse

• What is it?: the use of physical force to result in bodily injury, pain, or impairment
• Physical abuse in the elderly includes:
• Hitting and shoving
• Inappropriate use of restraints
• Inappropriate use of drugs
• Emotional abuse
  • What is it?: the infliction of distress through verbal and non-verbal acts
  • Emotional abuse in the elderly includes:
    • Yelling
    • Gaslighting
    • Isolating the individual from friends and activities
    • Infantilizing
    • Humiliation
    • Terrorizing

Sexual abuse

• What is it?: non-consensual sexual action
  • Sexual abuse includes:
    • Rape
    • Inappropriate touching
    • Forced nudity
    • Showing pornographic material
    • Photographing the elderly individual in inappropriate positions

Financial scams/exploitation

• What is it?: Stealing or mismanaging finances and/or possessions
  • Financial scams/exploitation include:
    • Misusing checks, credit cards, or bank accounts
    • Identity theft
    • Forging signatures
    • Gross misuse of guardianship or power of attorney
    • Phone scams
    • Prize scams
    • Investment fraud

Self-neglect

• What is it?: Engaging in behaviors harmful to health and safety
  • Signs of self-neglect in the elderly include:
    • Refusal to eat and drink
    • Refusal to keep clean

Signs of Elder Abuse and Neglect

It can be hard to figure out if a senior is experiencing abuse, especially if they have speaking difficulties. However, you can still look out for red flags. These include:

• Bruises, burns, and other signs of physical trauma
• Confusion
• Depression
• Social withdrawal
• Finances changing or getting worse
• Bedsores and poor hygiene
• Weight loss
• Sudden negative reaction to physical contact
• Unexplained diseases or injuries in private areas
• Unwillingness to speak or self-doubt

Now that we know a little bit about these unsafe conditions, let’s take a look at how to report unsafe living conditions of the elderly.

Who do you Call for Elderly Abuse?

Depending on where you live, there are likely multiple social services, non-profits, or other senior advocacy groups in your area that can help you understand who to report elderly abuse to in your specific situation. For help finding resources for elderly abuse in your area, consider contacting:

Adult Protective Services

Adult Protective Services programs exist in every state to help protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. You can visit The National Adult Protective Services Association directory to find your local APS Agency’s contact info or by calling 202-370-6292.

Eldercare Locator

The Eldercare Locator is a public service provided by the Administration for Community Living and exists to connect seniors and their caregivers to services in their area. You can visit their website to use their Find a Resource tool or get in touch by calling 1-800-677-1116.

Long-term Care Ombudsmen

If your senior is living in an assisted living facility, nursing home, or other long-term care facility, a long-term care ombudsman can help. These trained advocates specialize in making sure the needs of people who live in long-term care facilities are being met. Use this tool by The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care to find a long-care ombudsman in your state or by calling 202-332-2275.

National Elder Fraud Hotline

If you believe your senior has been the victim of fraud or is being targeted by scammers, the National Elder Fraud Hotline may be able to help. Even if they aren’t able to help your senior regain lost funds, reporting what happened can help save someone else from the same fate.

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