No Excuse for Eder Abuse
If you are concerned about someone you know, a friend, relative or neighbor and perhaps you have noticed changes their in financial situation or maybe they are no longer attending meetings, church or neighborhood gatherings. Your concerns may also be about seeing this person sad, nervous and withdrawn and they may be unusually quiet around their caregiver. Have you seen them trying to conceal bruises?
Knowing the facts about elder abuse is very important; here are some of the reasons:
Facts About Maine
- An estimated 14,000 older persons in Maine are victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation
- 85% of all cases in Maine go unreported
- An older Mainer who has been abused is three times more likely to die in the next decade than those who have not been abused.
- Every 2.7 minutes, another older Mainer becomes a victim of elder abuse
- Maine now has the oldest average age in the nation
- Many seniors live alone in rural areas with little social contact
Learn the Definitions of Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect
- Physical abuse occurs when the abuser attempts to cause or causes offensive physical contact, including pain, illness or impairment.
- Confinement occurs when an abuser hold the victim against their will by physical or chemical restraint or threatening.
- Stalking occurs when the abuser’s conduct causes intimidation, fear of harm or death of oneself or others.
- Domestic abuse is a pattern of coercive behavior in which one person attempts to control another through threats and use of violence.
- Emotional abuse occurs when the abuser engages in humiliation, isolation, insults, name calling, put downs, intimidation, minimizing and denying their own behavior.
- Sexual abuse occurs when the abuser engages n unwanted sexual acts, contact or touching
- Financial exploitation occurs when the abuser uses the victim’s resources for their own profit and advantage.
Neglect means withholding essential needs. Intentional neglect occurs when a dependent person is not allowed, for example, medical care, social contact, food, medication shelter or hygiene. Unintentional neglect occurs out of ignorance and the genuine inability to provide care. Self neglect occurs when one is unable to take care of and provide for themselves due to mental or physical impairment. Abandonment is also neglect.
What Can You Do?
Adult Protective Services is a program within the Office of Elder Services at the Department of Health and Human Services. Its purpose is to provide and arrange for services to protect adults who are unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or exploitation.
If you suspect an elder is at risk of being abused, neglected or exploited please call
Adult Protective Services
24 hours a day/seven days a week
HOTLINE: 1-800-624-8404
TTY: 1-800- 606-0215
If you are not sure, please call now!!
Reports can be made confidentially.