Institutional abuse refers to the maltreatment of an older person residing in a residential facility for older persons, e.g., a nursing home, board and care home, foster home, or group home. In the remaining states, the State Units on Aging have the major responsibility.
Agencies receive and screen calls for potential seriousness.
The agency keeps information received in reports of suspected abuse confidential. The older person has the right to refuse services offered by APS, unless he or she has been declared incapacitated by the court and a guardian has been appointed. If, as a concerned citizen or a practicing professional serving the elderly, you suspect that abuse has occurred or is occurring to an older person whom you know, report your suspicions to the local APS agency. In most states, certain professionals are mandated to report abuse. You can find the telephone number for the APS office by calling directory assistance and requesting the number for the department of social services or aging services.