Elder Abuse Cases Rise 150 Percent In 10 Years

BOSTON -- An estimated 551,011 Americans, age 60 and over, are reported to experience elder abuse each year, a 150 percent increase since 1986, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse. However, with 90 percent of cases of elder abuse occurring within the home and most going unreported, the NCEA estimates the actual number of yearly elder abuse victims may be closer to one million.

ELDER ABUSE RESOURCES Elder Abuse Hotline (800) 922-2275 Executive Office of Elder Affairs (617) 727-7750 Massachusetts Home Care (800) 243-4636 Elder Abuse Foundation Massachusetts' Connection for Caregivers Caregiver's Handbook: A Complete Guide to Home Health Care (617) 523-4042 U. S. Administration on Aging (800) 677-1116 American Association of Retired Persons (800) 424-3410

The NCEA, which has been collecting elder abuse data since 1986, says neglect is the most common form of reported elder abuse, occurring 55 percent of the time.

The other forms of elder abuse are physical abuse, the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, pain or impairment; sexual abuse, any non-consensual sexual contact with an elderly person; emotional abuse, infliction of anguish, pain or distress through verbal or non-verbal acts; financial exploitation, illegal or improper use of an elder's funds, property or assets; abandonment, desertion of an elderly person by an individual who has physical custody; and self-neglect, self behavior that threatens the elder's health or safety.

The NCEA reports the average age for an elder abuse victim is 77.

The Elder Abuse Foundation says there are several common signs that may indicate an elder is being abused. Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, sprains and fractures, along with sudden changes in behavior, unexpected large withdrawals from bank accounts or abrupt changes in the elders will or other financial documents may indicate abuse.

Massachusetts elder abuse law mandates anyone who has reasonable cause to believe an elder has suffered from, or has died as a result of, abuse must make a verbal report to the Elder Abuse Hotline, a Massachusetts protective agency which operates 24 hours a day. The person reporting the abuse must supply the hotline with the elders name, age, address, telephone number and the present condition of the elder.

Individuals who have reasonable cause to believe an elder is being abuse but fail to report it will be subject to a fine and criminal action, according to state law.

Once the initial information is collected, the hotline worker will fax the information to the appropriate agency where the severity of the alleged risk will be examined. If an agency worker finds the elder is at risk for serious harm, an investigation will immediately begin. As part of the investigation, the caseworker will visit the elder's home to assess the extent of the alleged injury, confront the person responsible for the alleged injury and evaluate the elder's functional capacity.

The caseworker may not remove the elder from the home or file charges against the alleged accuser without the elder's consent. If the elder is found to lack capacity, or if it is evident the elder is declining assistance under duress, intimidation, force, or threat of force, the caseworker may remove the elder from the situation.

Elders who believe they are being abused, or residents who know someone being abused, are strongly advised to contact the Elder Abuse Hotline at 800-922-2275 or contact the Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs.