Lop Notes: Elder Abuse – A Growing Problem

Elder abuse, which can affect men and women of all ethnic backgrounds and social status, is a growing (and often unreported) problem throughout the U.S. The term, elder abuse, refers to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Although the specifics of abuse legislation varies from state to state, abuse may be broadly defined to include:

physical abuse (inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need),
emotional abuse (inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts),
sexual abuse (non-consensual sexual contact of any kind),
exploitation (illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder),
neglect (refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder), and
abandonment (the desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person).

According to the best available estimates, between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection.

For additional information related to elder abuse, please visit:

U.S. Administration on Aging: National Center on Elder Abuse

National Center on Elder Abuse Fact Sheet: Elder Abuse Prevalence and Incidence

The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study (September 1998)

National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life

New England elder abuse resources include:

Connecticut Protective Services for the Elderly

Connecticut Commission on Aging

Connecticut Long Term Care Ombudsman

Maine Adult Protective Services

Maine Office of Elder Services