Your Safety

Know about Elder Abuse

Elder abuse has many forms. Abuse can mean any mistreatment of a senior, such as bodily injury, threats, confinement, abandonment, neglect, unwanted sexual contact, or financial exploitation. Neighbors and friends might see signs such as a senior’s severe weight loss, dehydration, or even bruises and broken bones. They might see a senior giving away large amounts of money and suspect someone is taking advantage of him or her.

Myth: “We don’t have that problem in our community.”  Some people believe that elder abuse is not a problem in their neighborhood. However, every community has its share of seniors suffering from neglect or exploitation, often out of sight and unreported.

Fact:  Abuse is often not seen or recognized.

Myth: “It’s just part of growing old.”  While aging involves many natural challenges, every senior deserves respect and no one should tolerate abuse. No senior should be physically harmed, sexually harassed, have money misused, or deprived of food, medicine, or contact with friends.

Fact:  Abuse is preventable.

There are criminal and civil penalties for different types of abuse. It takes friends, family members, case managers, police officers, and attorneys all working together to find how best to help someone suffering from abuse.

Idaho’s Adult Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Act (Idaho Code Section 39, Chapter 53) empowers state agencies to help vulnerable adults who can’t protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation because of physical or mental impairment.

You can find help! Many people have experienced what you are going through.

You donʼt deserve abuse. Itʼs not your fault if someone is abusing you.

People should have your permission to make decisions for you.

You shouldnʼt have to live in fear or violence.

Abuse is unacceptable.

You Can Call for Help

• If you or someone else is in danger, call 911. 

• If you are suffering from ongoing abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call Adult Protection
  Services (APS). You can call when the person harming you has calmed down or is not around.

• If a neighbor, friend, or family member is suffering abuse or neglect at the hands of an another person, call Adult Protection Services (APS).  APS can investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors and other vulnerable adults.  APS can work with the police, Health and Welfare, nursing homes, bank managers and lawyers to help seniors.

• If someone you know is suffering abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call APS. APS can investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. APS can work with the police, nursing homes, bank managers, lawyers, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to help seniors.

• If you suspect or observe abuse, neglect, or exploitation in an institution (like a nursing home), call Adult Protection Services first. Then call the Area Agency Ombudsman. Ombudsmen investigate complaints about long-term care and assisted-living facilities.