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Understanding Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse

Understanding Elder Abuse

Elderly man looks pensive in the retirement home

What is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse happens when someone hurts, ignores, or takes advantage of an older adult. This may be someone who is of advanced age or is vulnerable and unable to protect themselves due to a mental or physical issues. 

It May Look Like:

  • Abuse: Hurting or threatening someone physically or emotionally.
  • Neglect: Not giving basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, medicine, or medical care.
  • Exploitation: Stealing money or valuables. They may also humiliate, objectify, degrade, or dehumanize them.

Common Signs to Watch For:

  • Physical: Bruises, weight loss, or missing medications.
  • Emotional: Acting scared, quiet, or pulling away from family or friends.
  • Financial: Unpaid bills, missing money, or strange purchases.

Often the abuser is trusted family, friends, neighbors or caregivers. This can occur in the person's home, in the home of another person or in licensed settings such as adult foster care, homes for the aged or nursing homes.

Group of senior citizens looking up with worried

Too many older adults face mistreatment.

Families have shared stories of:

  • Loved ones moved to nursing homes against their wishes.
  • Nursing home concerns: poor care, isolation, or lost belongings in facilities. 
  • Guardians blocking visits from friends or family.
  • Money disappearing without explanation. 

Everyone deserves safety, respect, and dignity.

Report & Document Abuse

Think something's wrong? You can help stop elder abuse, including in nursing homes:

Again, report it to Adult Protective Services, the State Police and/or the local police, Attorney General Health Care Fraud Division, Long Term Care Ombudsman, and the Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

Every step you take makes a difference!

Download Vulnerable Adult Incident Report Form (PDF)

Elder Abuse Task Force (EATF) logo

Raising the Public's Awareness and Equipping Communities with the Tools to Identify and Prevent Elder Abuse

A team of over 100 people from 55+ organizations—government, businesses, and nonprofits. Our mission? Protect older adults and stop abuse.

Explore the Task Force

You must report any suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult to Adult Protective Services by calling 855-444-3911. 

A mandated reporter is a person who is employed, licensed, registered, or certified to provide health care, educational, social welfare, mental health, or other human services; an employee of an agency licensed to provide health care, educational, social welfare, mental health, or other human services; a law enforcement officer; or an employee of the office of the county medical examiner.

You may report any suspected elder or vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation to Adult Protective Services by calling 855-444-3911.

To report abuse in a nursing facility, call the Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Division on their statewide hotline, 800-24-ABUSE (800-242-2873)

Take Action

If you suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a resident of a nursing home by another resident or by a nursing home employee notify the following agencies:

  • Attorney General Health Care Fraud Hotline: 800-24-ABUSE (800-242-2873)
  • Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Community and Health Systems Abuse Hotline: 800-882-6006
  • Disability Rights Michigan:
    • Developmental Disabilities: 800-288-5923
    • Mental Illness: 800-288-5923

Nursing Home Staff

If you are a Nursing Home Administrator or Business Office Manager, and you know or have reason to believe that someone is using a nursing home resident's assets or benefits for purposes other than the care, needs and wishes of the resident, you may report suspected elder or vulnerable adult exploitation to the Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Division using this online complaint system. If you have any questions surrounding the complaint process please call, 517-241-6500.

Nursing Home Exploitation Complaint Form