Understanding Elder Abuse

Fact Sheet 2016

Elder abuse is an intentional act or failure to act that 

causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult. An 

older adult is someone age 60 or older. The abuse occurs 

at the hands of a caregiver or a person the elder trusts. 

Six frequently recognized types of elder abuse include:

• Physical—This occurs when an elder experiences

illness, pain, or injury as a result of the intentional use

of physical force and includes acts such as hitting,

kicking, pushing, slapping, and burning.

• Sexual—This involves forced or unwanted sexual

interaction of any kind with an older adult. This may

include unwanted sexual contact or penetration or

non-contact acts such as sexual harassment.

• Emotional or Psychological—This refers to verbal or

nonverbal behaviors that that inflict anguish, mental

pain, fear, or distress on an older adult. Examples

include name calling, humiliating, destroying property,

or not letting the older adult see friends and family.

• Neglect—This is the failure to meet an older adult’s

basic needs. These needs include food, water, shelter,

clothing, hygiene, and essential medical care.

• Financial—This is illegally or improperly using an

elder’s money, benefits, belongings, property, or assets

for the benefit of someone other than the older adult.

Examples include taking money from an older adult’s

account without proper authority, unauthorized credit

card use, and changing a will without permission.

Why is elder abuse a 

public health problem?

Elder abuse is a serious problem in the United States. 

There is a lack of data, but past research found that: 

• In 2008, one in 10 elders reported emotional, physical,

or sexual abuse or potential neglect in the past year.1 

Many cases are not reported because elders are afraid 

or unable to tell police, friends, or family about the 

violence. Victims often have to decide whether to tell 

someone they are being hurt or continue being abused 

by someone they depend upon or care for deeply.

How does elder abuse 

affect health?

Elder abuse can have several physical and emotional 

effects on an older adult. Many victims suffer physical 

injuries. Some are minor, like cuts, scratches, bruises, 

and welts. Others are more serious and can cause lasting 

disabilities. These include head injuries, broken bones, 

constant physical pain, and soreness. Physical injuries 

can also lead to premature death and make existing 

health problems worse.2, 3, 4, 5

Elder abuse can have emotional effects as well. Victims 

are often fearful and anxious. They may have problems 

with trust and be wary around others.2

Who is at risk for perpetrating

elder abuse?

Several factors can increase the risk that someone will 

hurt an older adult. However, having these risk factors 

does not always mean violence will occur. 

Some of the risk factors for hurting an older adult 

include:

• Using drugs or alcohol, especially drinking heavily

• High levels of stress and low or ineffective coping

resources

• Lack of social support

• High emotional or financial dependence on the

older adult

• Lack of training in taking care of older adult

• Depression

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control 

Division of Violence Prevention
Understanding Elder Abuse

How can we prevent 

elder abuse?

The goal is to stop elder abuse before it starts. While 

not much research has been done, there are several 

important things we can do to prevent it:

• Listen to older adults and their caregivers to 

understand their challenges and provide support.

• Report abuse or suspected abuse to Adult Protective 

Services.

• Educate oneself and others about how to recognize 

and report elder abuse. 

• Learn how the signs of elder abuse differ from the 

normal aging process.

• Check in often on older adults who may have few 

friends and family members.

• Provide over-burdened caregivers with emotional 

and instrumental supports such as help from friends, 

family, or local relief care groups; adult day care 

programs; counselling; or outlets intended to promote 

emotional well-being.

• Where prudent and possible involve more people than 

just family, formal caregivers, and guardians in health 

care or financial matters.

• Encourage and assist persons (either caregivers or 

older adults) having problems with drug or alcohol 

abuse in getting help.

How does CDC approach 

elder abuse?

CDC uses a 4-step approach to address public health 

problems like elder abuse.

Step 1: Define the problem

Before we can prevent elder abuse, we need to know how 

big the problem is, where it is, and whom it affects. CDC 

learns about a problem by gathering and studying data. 

These data are critical because they help decision makers 

send resources where they are needed most.

Step 2: Identify risk and protective factors

It is not enough to know that elder abuse is affecting a certain 

group in a certain area. We also need to know why abuse 

occurs. CDC conducts and supports research to answer this 

question. We can then develop programs to reduce or get rid 

of risk factors and increase protective factors. 

Step 3: Develop and test prevention strategies

Using information gathered in research, CDC develops 

and evaluates strategies to prevent violence.

Step 4: Ensure widespread adoption

In this final step, CDC shares the best prevention 

strategies. CDC may also provide funding or technical 

help so communities can adopt these strategies. 

Where can I learn more?

Elder Abuse Helplines and Hotlines

Call 1-800-677-1116

Always dial 911 or local police during emergencies. 

National Center on Elder Abuse

www.ncea.aoa.gov

National Institute on Aging

www.nia.nih.gov

National Institute of Justice

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/elder-abuse/

welcome.htm

For more information on elder abuse, visit www.cdc.gov/

violenceprevention.

References

1. Acierno R, Hernandez MA, Amstadter AB, Resnick HS, 

Steve K, Muzzy W, Kilpatrick DG. Prevalence and Correlates 

of Emotional, Physical, Sexual, and Financial Abuse and 

Potential Neglect in the United States: The National Elder 

Mistreatment Study. American Journal of Public Health 

2010; 100:292–7.

2. Anetzberger, G. The Clinical Management of Elder Abuse. 

New York: Hawthorne Press, 2004.

3. American Medical Association. American Medical 

Association white paper on elderly health. Report of the 

Council on Scientific Affairs. Archives of Internal Medicine 

1990; 150:2459-72.

4. Lachs MS, Williams CS, O’Brien S, et. al. The Mortality of Elder 

Mistreatment. Journal of the American Medical Association 

1998; 280:428-32.

5. Lindbloom EJ, Brandt J, Hough L, Meadows SE. Elder 

Mistreatment in the Nursing Home: A Systematic Review. 

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 2007; 

8(9):610-16. 

1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) • www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention