You can help stop elder abuse.
Silence isn’t golden.
If you suspect elder abuse call:
1-800-490-8505
Elder Abuse Is a Crime!
Professionals Play a Critical Role in Stopping Elder Abuse and Neglect.
Professionals who work in programs for the elderly are likely to be the first to discover abuse and can provide a vital link to protective services, including APS and law enforcement. As a professional, you have the unique opportunity to be able to offer support and encouragement to your clients as they take action to end their victimization.
If you suspect abuse of an older adult:
- Report abuse to your local Area Agency on Aging or police.
- Tell the victim that nobody deserves to be abused and encourage them to accept help.
- Provide information that can help in proving abuse, (e.g. patterns they have observed or interactions between clients and caregivers) to as great an extent possible while respecting clients' confidentiality and right to privacy
- Provide emotional support to victims
- Provide or refer clients to services that reduce risk and vulnerability – such as your local victim service agency.
How to Support Victims of Elder Sexual Assault
Older sexual assault victims need many of the same services and interventions younger victims need:
- Non-judgmental emotional support
- Medical care
- Protection form unsupervised access by the abuser
- Legal interventions where appropriate and desired
In Bucks County, adult protective services programs work collaboratively with the local rape crisis center staff to learn more about the dynamics of sexual abuse and how to effectively intervene with victims in a sensitive manner.
To Report Elder Sexual Assault:
If an elder is in danger now, call:
Pennsylvania’s 24 hour elder abuse hotline
1-800-490-8505
Abuse is NEVER the victim’s fault.