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Elder abuse, neglect or exploitation can take place in the home, in a residential setting, or in the community. All types of abuse, neglect and exploitation harm the older person. Elder abuse is never acceptable and is often a crime. It can happen to you or it can happen to someone else..
Abuse
Abuse is any deliberate or threatened act that causes or is likely to cause significant harm to a vulnerable adult’s physical, mental or emotional health. There are several forms of abuse or mistreatment including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect, abandonment and self-neglect. We do not tolerate abuse by anyone, including family, friends, employees or other individuals, and will document, investigate and/or report all suspected cases.
Neglect
Neglect occurs when a Caregiver fails to meet or protect the needs of elderly persons who cannot care for themselves and depend on others to meet their basic needs. Sometimes neglected individuals do not receive adequate nourishment, medications, clothing, shelter, hygiene, medical or social services. Neglectful incidents can occur once or repeatedly and may result in serious physical or psychological injury or put the vulnerable individual at risk of death.
Self-Neglect
Self- Neglect may occur when an older adult is no longer able to perform his/her own self-care due to physical or mental impairment or diminished capacity. They may lack basic personal hygiene, appear dehydrated, malnourished, or underweight, live in increasingly unsanitary or dirty conditions, and be unable to pay bills or properly manage their medications
Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation occurs when a person misuses or takes the assets of a vulnerable adult for his/her own personal benefit. This frequently occurs without the knowledge, consent or authorization of older adults or adults with disabilities, which deprives them of vital financial resources for their personal needs. Assets may be taken through deception, false pretenses, intimidation, harassment, pressure and threats.
There are many forms of financial exploitation including: theft; fraud; misuse of a power of attorney or the abuse of guardianship duties; unauthorized sale or transfer or property; unauthorized taking of personal assets; misappropriate misuse or transfer of money from a personal or joint account; intentional or negligent failure to effectively use vulnerable adults’ income and assets for their necessities.
Reporting Elder Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation
- If you, or another person are in immediate danger of being abused, you need to call: “9-1-1”
- If you are being abused, neglected or exploited or suspect somebody else is, and the situation is not immediate or urgent, there are many people who can help including:
- your Direct Care Worker or our Management Team. If we suspect you are being abused in any way, we will ask you for your written consent to report the alleged abuse. If you are not willing to provide your written consent, we will still make a report to the proper authorities
- somebody you trust such as your doctor, a friend, or a family member;
- Attorney General Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-490-8505
- Local Adult Protective Services:
Lehigh County AAA - 17 South 7th Street, Rm. 230, Allentown, PA 18101 Tel: 610-782-3034
Northampton County AAA - 2801 Emrick BLVD, Bethlehem PA 18020 Tel: 610-829-4540
Monroe County - 724 Phillips Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Tel: 570-420-3735
Bucks County - 30 East Oakland Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901 Tel: 267-880-5700
Berks County - 633 Court St, 8th FL, Reading, PA 19601 Tel: 610-478-6500