Local Resources: Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners Statewide Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-490-8505 Elder Abuse: www.aging.pa.gov “Silent No Longer”
National Center on Elder Abuse www.ncea.acl.gov
Chester County Department of Aging Toll-Free: 1-800-564-7000 Local: (610) 344-6350 www.chesco.org/486/Protective -Services
Domestic Violence Center of Chester County Toll-Free: 1-888-711-6270 Local: (610) 431-1430 www.dvcccpa.org
Berks County Information Department of Aging & (610) 478-6500 Resources SAFE Berks Toll-Free: 1-844-789-SAFE Text “SAFE BERKS” to 20121 This event brought to you by Lions District 14p www.safeberks.org Chester County & Berks County, PA IF YOU ARE IN DANGER, CALL 911! What is Elder Abuse? Risk Factors for Elder Abuse Reporting Abuse
Elder Abuse is a term used to describe any There are some factors that can put an old- In the state of Pennsylvania, if you work knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a er adult at increased risk for experiencing with and suspect abuse of an individual abuse including: caregiver or any other person that causes over the age of 60—you are mandated to harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulner- • An adult child who is still dependent on report it to the appropriate authorities. able adult. Elder abuse can come in vari- their older parent for financial assis- ous forms: tance or housing—especially in cases PA Statewide Elder Abuse Hotline
Physical/Sexual Abuse where the adult child suffers from men- 1-800-490-8505 tal illness or a substance abuse disorder Hitting, pushing, kicking, punching, pinch- ing, biting, unnecessarily restraint, inten- (addiction). • If you believe an adult is being abuse • A history of domestic violence in the tionally causing pain, intentional misuse of and their life is in imminent danger, home or family—as families grow and medication, sexual abuse/exploitation, etc. call 911 immediately! Then report di- age, present problems of domestic vio- Verbal Abuse lence often continue. rectly to protective services. Calling names, put-downs, making fun, • Living with others in isolation— pre- To make a report you may need to know: embarrassing/humiliating, criticism, etc. vents likelihood of reporting of abuse.
• Age of the victim PA Statistics on Elder Abuse Emotional Abuse • Address of the victim Threats of harm or abandonment, manipu- In national statistics, 1 in 10 adults 60+ • Victim’s level of physical/mental ca- lation, mind games, gaslighting—making have experienced some form of abuse. In you feel crazy, isolation, non- Pennsylvania, since 2016, we have seen a pacity communication, intimidation, control, etc. 32% increase in number of reports of elder • Date of the incident abuse—with a 38% increase in substantiat- • Whether or not there are weapons Financial Abuse ed, or proven, claims of abuse. present in the home, if there is a his- Pressure to make or making undue chang- • The age group most reported to be in tory of drug/alcohol abuse or domes- es to legal, financial documents, theft of or need of protective services in PA were withholding of funds, identity theft, etc. those between the ages of 81—90 and tic violence in the home.
almost half of them lived in their own • How the alleged perpetrator might Neglect & Self-Neglect homes. Deprivation of basic needs: food, water, react to a worker coming to the home • 46.8% of perpetrators of abuse were • What the best times to visit may be housing, clothing, hygiene, medical care, between the ages of 30—59 and 16.7% emotional/social engagement, etc. were identified as family members. Self-Neglect involves an older adult, living • The most common substantiated forms Failure to report suspected independently, who is unable/unwilling to of abuse were: self-neglect, caregiver care for themselves leading to an environ- neglect, financial exploitation, physi- abuse is a crime. ment threatening to health and safety. cal, and emotional abuse.