Reporting Elder Abuse

How to Report Elder Abuse

It’s important to speak up if you’re concerned about an older person that you love. Anywhere from 10% to 20% of Americans over the age of 60 experience elder abuse, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), with many cases going unreported.

Reporting elder abuse is as simple as:

• Calling 911 in the event of an emergency
• Dialing your local branch of Adult Protective Services (APS)
• Reaching out to a nursing home ombudsman
• Speaking to an elder abuse attorney

Can I report elder abuse anonymously? Yes — in many situations, elder abuse reports are anonymously filed. You can always clarify ahead of time that you wish to keep a report anonymous.

Older adults may not be able to report elder abuse on their own due to disabilities or fear of retaliation from abusive caregivers. Without someone looking out for them, they could experience significant and long-lasting harm.

Reporting potential cases of abuse or neglect promptly on their behalf is a key way to intervene and keep them safe.

If elder abuse has impacted your family, our team is ready to listen to your story and guide you through your options. Get help reporting elder abuse with a Free Case Review.

Who Do I Report Elderly Abuse To?

It’s possible to report elderly mistreatment and abuse to many different authorities and groups. Explore your elder and nursing home abuse reporting options below and find out which ones best suit your situation.

Always call 911 in an emergency. Doing so helps immediately address any situations that could be life-threatening to your loved one.

Adult Protective Services

Every state has an APS branch with agents that advocate for and protect older Americans. When an instance of possible elder abuse is reported, APS agents can investigate to determine next steps.

APS agents may:

• Conduct interviews with the older adult and those close to them
• Gather evidence to determine if abuse is occurring
• Help assess any emergency needs the older person has

If APS agents find that abuse or neglect is happening, they will work with the older adult and connect them with resources to keep them safe. This may include relocating them to a safer place to live, putting them in touch with legal services, accessing medical care, and more.

Reporting elder abuse through APS is typically anonymous. Visit the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) website to find hotlines specific to your state or territory.

Nursing Home Ombudsmen

Long-term care ombudsmen are agents who look out for the interests of those living in nursing homes across the country. They serve as mediators between nursing home residents and facilities, working to address disputes and concerns.

Every state has a long-term care ombudsman program as outlined by the Administration on Aging (AoA).

Long-term care ombudsmen can help:

• Assess possible instances of abuse or neglect
• Resolve complaints related to quality of care
• Protect the rights of nursing home residents

In situations where nursing home abuse has occurred, long-term care ombudsmen serve as a family’s first line of defense, and can recommend ways to pursue accountability.

All matters and concerns shared with an ombudsman are kept confidential, unless an older adult or their family members give permission otherwise.

Local Law Enforcement

Local police are an important option to consider in emergency situations or if a crime has been committed. Many types of elder abuse or mistreatment could be considered crimes since they are against the law.

Police agencies help in instances of elder abuse by:

• Conducting investigations into an incident
• Listening to details from survivors and families
• Pressing charges against perpetrators

Older adults may be unwilling to consider reporting elder abuse to law enforcement out of fear of getting a caregiver in trouble or potential retaliation. In these cases, family members may need to step in and report it on their behalf.

Elder Abuse Lawyers

Experienced attorneys help families impacted by elderly abuse or mistreatment file lawsuits through the civil court system to seek justice and financial compensation.

These attorneys handle the legal process on a family’s behalf, so there’s little added stress and they can focus on recovering from what happened.

Elder abuse attorneys offer nursing home legal help for:

• Instances of assault and battery (cuts, bruises, scrapes)
• Medical malpractice leading to injuries or illnesses
• Neglect situations (bedsores, malnutrition, dehydration)
• Sexual assault or mistreatment
• Wrongful deaths that occurred due to abuse or neglect

The Victim Advocacy Center’s network of elder and nursing home abuse attorneys has recovered over $318 million to date for other families and survivors.

Get help reporting elder abuse or mistreatment to our legal partners right now. Start the process with a Free Case Review.

Other Options to Report Nursing Home and Elder Abuse

Besides the organizations and people listed above, there are many other ways to report elderly abuse and keep someone you love safe.

Reports of suspected elder abuse can be made to:

• Doctors and nurses: If your loved one is experiencing severe or recurring injuries or illnesses, you can ask trusted health care providers for their opinion as to whether abuse or neglect is taking place.
• Eldercare Locator: This agency is run by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and offers resources to older adults and families across the country. Visit the Eldercare Locator website to call, email, or chat online with trained staff members who can help.
• Mandated reporters: All states legally require law enforcement, medical providers, nursing home staff members, and more to report cases of suspected abuse or mistreatment. In some states, any adult may be considered a mandated reporter.

Any of these options are excellent ways to start the process of reporting elder abuse or neglect to protect an older person that you love.

Reporting Elder Abuse Hotlines

Many different agencies and groups offer hotlines where you can report cases of suspected elder abuse or mistreatment, get advice, and learn about next steps you can take to protect your loved one.

Essential hotlines for reporting elder abuse include:

• Elder abuse hotline: Call 1-800-677-1116 to speak with trained Eldercare Locator agents.
• Local law enforcement: Call 911 if you believe your loved one is in immediate danger.
• Victim Advocacy Center hotline: Report mistreatment or neglect to our elder abuse attorneys now. Call (877) 684-0487 to get started.

If you wish to report to APS, phone numbers vary by state. Visit the APS website to find your state’s number.

You can also explore the National Consumer Voice website to find long-term care ombudsmen hotlines by state.

What Is Needed for Reporting Elder Abuse?

You don’t necessarily need any evidence for reporting elder abuse. You’re still encouraged to report if you’re concerned about a loved one’s well-being.

With that being said, if there are potential signs of elder abuse or mistreatment, be sure to document them and provide them to the authorities you file your report with.

Here’s what you may need for reporting elder abuse:

• The elder’s name, age, and location
• Descriptions of the incident, including specific dates, times, and actions
• Images or videos of physical injuries
• Medical reports related to a loved one’s health
• Statements from banks if financial abuse is suspected

The bottom line is that if you’re worried about an older person you love, reporting can give you peace of mind.

What Happens When You Report Elderly Abuse?

What will happen when you report suspected elderly abuse or mistreatment will vary depending on which agency you go through. Generally speaking, though, reporting elder abuse will start an investigation into the safety of the older adult.

Here’s what to expect after reporting elder abuse:

• Authorities will reach out to discuss what happened
• Evidence and records may be collected related to the incident
• Charges could be filed if a crime has been committed
• Experts will work to protect the older person by offering relocation, medical care, and other resources

Older adults and families may be worried about retaliation from perpetrators, such as nursing home staff, if they file a report. However, the majority of nursing home or elder abuse complaints can be filed anonymously — which can go a long way to protecting an older person from more harm.

When Should I Report Nursing Home or Elder Abuse?

It’s important to consider reporting elder abuse or mistreatment as soon as possible. Older adults relying on caregivers are often physically frail or have special medical needs.

Abuse and neglect can quickly lead to severe complications, and without addressing them, your loved one’s quality of life could be permanently affected.

Promptly report elder abuse if your loved one:

• Can’t explain recent financial transactions in their bank accounts
• Develops anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues
• Develops bedsores or other chronic health issues
• Develops a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Has bruising or bleeding around their genitals
• Has infections that don’t seem to be getting better
• Has suffered serious or repeated injuries like bruises or broken bones
• Is fearful or agitated around caregivers or other nursing home residents
• Is missing essential medical devices like hearing aids or dentures
• Regularly wears dirty clothes, has soiled bedsheets, or an unkempt room

Get a Free Case Review from our team now to find out if your loved one’s situation may be considered elder abuse or mistreatment.

Get Help Reporting Elder Abuse

If you believe that an older person you love is experiencing elder abuse, it’s very important to consider reporting it. Promptly making a report for elderly mistreatment can prevent your loved one from suffering more and allow healing to begin.

In many cases, it’s possible to report elder or nursing home abuse anonymously, meaning you won’t have to worry about your loved one’s safety in the meantime. Elder care authorities can then step in and offer protection.

The Victim Advocacy Center stands with survivors of elder abuse and mistreatment, and our network of attorneys is ready to assist your family in any way we can.

Our elder abuse legal partners can:

• Listen to your story and assess the details of your case
• Pursue accountability from perpetrators of abuse
• Recover financial compensation and secure justice for your family

Call (877) 684-0487 or get a Free Case Review now to report potential abuse and access resources to keep your loved one safe.