Key statistics about elder abuse

Elder abuse is a very large problem in the United States, though it often does go overlooked. Below are a few key facts and statistics to know:

1. Major studies done in recent years have found that 7.6 percent to 10 percent of elderly people had experienced abuse recently in their lives.

2. The same study found that ten percent of those who were abused were not being subjected to financial abuse.

3. According to Adult Protective Services, the amount of elder abuse that takes place every year is trending upward.

3. People in Indiana and all 49 other states have APS offices, but many cases are not reported to them. These cases can involve neglect, abuse and exploitation.

4. According to one study, only a single case out of every 14 cases will be reported. That means that 13 other cases happen, but they fly under the radar.

5. Another study estimated that things were even worse than that, claiming that just one out of every 24 cases ended up being properly reported.

6. The elderly did self-report some of the cases, with financial abuse being the most common. For every 1,000 people who were asked, 41 said that they’d been subjected to financial abuse. The rates for other serious types of abuse, like physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and nursing home neglect were all lower.

These stats are very eye-opening in many ways, showing just how common these issues are and how often nothing is reported and nothing is done. If you believe a loved one has been neglected or abused, make sure you know what legal steps to take.

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse, accessed March 29, 2016

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