Report a Case of Elder Abuse Introduction Elder Abuse is any act carried out with an intent to cause injury or pain to a person 60 years of age or over. Elder Neglect is an act of carelessness or misunderstanding which results in the injury or suffering of a person age 60 or over. Exploitation is the misuse of an older person's money or property by a person in a position of trust. Although elder abuse often occurs among families experiencing stress, many other families provide good care.
Most families take care of their elderly members without resorting to abuse or neglect.
Even though abusers act badly, they are not necessarily bad people. Many times they are people who need, and often want, help. With assistance they may learn new, non-harmful ways to care for older family members. Although elder abuse usually occurs in a family setting, older persons may be abused by health care or social service providers. Elder abuse can occur in all racial and ethnic groups, and among families in all income levels.