Perry County Job and Family Services: Adult Protective Services

Abuse Ignores Age.

If you’ve experienced elder abuse, tell someone. Now you can get help.

You’re not the only one who’s been hurt.

When most people think of abuse, they think of child abuse, or domestic abuse that affects only young women. However, elder abuse – violent and malicious acts committed against women and men over 60 years of age – is just as common. Over one million older Americans are abused annually. One reason you may not hear much about it is because most cases don’t get reported. In fact, for every one case that does get reported, five others go unreported.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to talk about it. Here is some information that should help you get a better understanding about what elder abuse is.

Types of Elder Abuse

You might be surprised by some of the things that are considered to be elder abuse, and who are the abusers. Many abusers are relatives or loved ones.

Physical abuse: using coercion or inflicting injury by punching, pushing, slapping, kicking, restraining, cutting, burning or using objects as weapons.

Sexual abuse: any type of touching, fondling or sexual activity, when forced or threatened and without consent.

Emotional abuse: verbal threats, intimidation, humiliation and harassment; put-downs, name-calling and insults; playing mind games; isolation from friends and family.

Neglect: intentionally failing to care for an elderly person who cannot care for her/himself without some assistance (i.e., withholding food, medicine, shelter, hygiene, physical assistance, etc.), or complete abandonment.

Financial exploitation: taking advantage of and misusing financial resources of an elderly person.

If you have had any of these experiences, you have been abused. You don’t deserve to be hurt, so take the time to talk to someone about it. Remember, you’re not alone.

Signs of Elder Abuse

What are some of the things you should look for? If you have experienced one, or several, of the following, you may have been abused. Keep in mind, some of these signs by themselves could happen as a result of something else. But, if they occur frequently or repeatedly, we encourage you to talk to someone.

Physical: unexplained bruises, cuts, marks, fractures, swelling, welts or pain; sunken eyes.

Emotional: depression, withdrawal, passiveness, fear, guilt; hesitation to speak openly, denial of problems.

Neglect: malnourishment and/or dehydration, weight loss, bedsores, soiled clothing, lack of medical attention.

Financial: unpaid bills, sudden or unusual transfer of money or property to caregiver, unusually large transactions, overcharging for goods and services, missing property and/or money/checks.

What can you do?

You don’t have to be afraid or feel isolated anymore. If you or someone you know is being hurt or abused, please call for help at

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This program supported by Verizon Wireless