Where to Report Abuse
Call your state's hotline to report abuse or neglect States'
Toll Free Elder Abuse Reporting Numbers. Calls are confidential.
If You Need Help
Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services (APS) is the principal public agency
responsible both for investigating reported cases of elder and vulnerable adult
abuse and for providing victims with treatment and protective services.
Although most APS agencies also handle adult abuse cases
(serving clients between 18 and 59 years of age), nearly 70 percent of their
caseloads involve elder abuse.
Usually, the APS Unit, Area Agency on Aging, or County
Department of Social Services is designated as the agency to receive and
investigate allegations of elder abuse and neglect. If the investigators find
abuse or neglect, they arrange for services to help protect the victim.
Many other agencies (and nonprofit organizations) are also
actively working to protect vulnerable elders. Examples:
Learn More . . .
Law Enforcement
Local police, sheriffs, and prosecuting attorneys may
investigate and prosecute abuse, particularly in cases involving sexual abuse
or assault. In states whose statutes make elder abuse a crime, there may be a
requirement to report suspected abuse to a law enforcement agency.
Long Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Services
State LTC ombudsman programs investigate and resolve nursing
home complaints, and in some areas, complaints about board and care facilities
and professional home care providers. If you are concerned about abuses, check
with your State Unit on Aging or Area Agency on Aging to see if the LTC
ombudsman program in your area can help.
Information and Referral (I & R)
Every Area Agency on Aging operates an I & R line that can
refer people to a wide range of services for people 60 and older. Trained
information operators and can be particularly helpful in finding services that
can help prevent abuse and neglect.
National and State Information
Family members who live in different cities or states can call
a nationwide toll-free Eldercare Locator number (1-800-677-1116) to find
support and resources that can help. On the web at www.eldercare.gov. In addition, some
states have established a statewide toll-free number to provide centralized
aging services information for residents of their states.
Medicaid Fraud and Abuse
Every State Attorney General's Office is required by federal
law to have a State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to investigate
and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect in
healthcare programs that participate in Medicaid, including home health care.
Information on how you can report fraud and who you should contact can be found
at Reporting Fraud and
Abuse in Your State.