Elder Abuse and How to Report It

Elder Abuse and How To Report It, Prevent It

Florida Law requires that any person who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a vulnerable adult has been or is being abused, neglected, or exploited shall immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the Florida Abuse Hotline on the toll-free telephone number, 1-800-96-ABUSE ( 1-800-962-2873 ). The TDD (Telephone Device for the Deaf) number for reporting adult abuse is 1-800-955-8770 . Vulnerable adults are persons eighteen and over (including senior adults sixty and over) who, because of their age or disability, may be unable to adequately provide for their own care or protection. The Florida Abuse Hotline accepts calls 24 hours per day, seven days a week. The Abuse Hotline counselor is required to let the person calling know whether the information provided has been accepted as a report for investigation.
Abuse may be physical, mental, emotional, or sexual. Neglect can be self-neglect or neglect by a caregiver. A caregiver may be a family member, an in-home paid worker, a staff person of a program such as an adult day care center or of a facility such as a nursing home, or another person. Exploitation means that a person in a position of trust knowingly, by deception and intimidation, obtains and uses or tries to obtain and use a vulnerable person's funds, assets, or property. This includes failure to use the vulnerable person's income and assets to provide for the necessities required for that person's care.
When you call the Abuse Hotline to make a report, have this information ready:

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  Victim's name, address or location, approximate age, race, and sex.


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  A brief description of the adult victim's disability or infirmity.
  


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  Signs or indications of harm or injury, including a physical description if possible.
  


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  Name, address, and telephone number of any possibly responsible person/ perpetrator.
  


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  Relationship of the possibly responsible person/perpetrator to the victim, if possible. If the relationship is unknown, a report may still meet requirements for investigation.
  As the reporter, your name, address, and telephone number. This information is never given out. The reporter may choose to remain anonymous.

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is responsible for providing services to detect and correct abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults. This must be done so as to place the fewest possible restrictions on personal liberty and constitutional rights. In other words, DCF cannot forcibly remove a competent adult from a situation he or she refuses to leave. Some elders are unwilling to leave an abusive situation or to press charges against family members. Only if the person is found to be mentally impaired enough that judgment and decision making are impaired can the worker intervene to protect the person against his or her will. Law enforcement takes the lead in all criminal investigations and prosecutions for abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult by another person.

Groups most at risk for elder abuse include:

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  Older women are most commonly reported. Older men may be just as much or even more at risk but are less frequently reported.
  The higher the age, the greater the risk.
  Those who live with a caregiver or depend on someone for care and assistance.
  Physically frail or disabled.
  Confused, disoriented, or mentally impaired.
  
  The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. (AAAPP) is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit agency serving seniors and their caregivers in Pasco and Pinellas counties in Florida

Source: Aging Care Florida