Reporting elder abuse

elder abuse

Elder abuse is a big problem in California and all over the country. There are anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million reported cases of elder abuse in the United States each year.

However, some researchers believe that the number of elderly victims is actually much higher, and 13 cases of elder abuse go unreported for every reported case. People who work in certain fields have a legal obligation to report elder abuse to the appropriate authorities when they see it. These professionals include law enforcement, social workers, medical personnel and elder care facility workers.

Requirements vary by state, but any workers who are in constant contact with the elderly usually have a legal obligation to report abuse. Although it may not be mandated, any person who witnesses elder abuse should take the time to report it. An individual may dial the number for local police or an anonymous tip line. People who report elder abuse will normally be asked questions about the incident that they witnessed and asked to provide information about the victim.

Authorities may then step in to conduct an investigation to determine whether the report was valid. When an elderly person is living in a full-time care facility, elder abuse may go unseen by the victim’s friends and family members. If a family suspects that their loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, they may want to speak with an attorney about what steps they should take.

An attorney may advise the family about seeking crisis intervention services and pursuing a civil claim against the facility where the abuse occurred.

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