Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed July 2014 as Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.
In the United States, more than 500,000 adults over the age of 60 fall victim to a form of elder abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This estimate may be low since many victims are unable to or fearful of telling family, friends or law enforcement about it.
Elder abuse can be
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Abandonment
- Financial abuse
If you suspect that an older adult is being abused, document the incident and report it as soon as possible.
The Illinois Department of Aging (IDoA) operates a 24 hour Adult Protective Services hotline for reporting elder abuse: (866) 800-1409 or TTY (888) 206-1327. Trained professionals take reports of abuse and promptly forward them to local protective service agencies and/or law enforcement. Resources are available to help victims and all calls and information related to suspected abuse are confidential.