Elder Abuse

The Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) was appointed by the State Legislature to establish and oversee the work of Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. The council's mission is to strengthen partnerships to protect elders and raise awareness of elder abuse issues through education, advocacy, and outreach.

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ADSS has the responsibility to empower, protect, and advocate on behalf of the state's aging population. The council provides education and awareness to seniors, their care partners, professionals, and the public on the rights of older adults and elder abuse prevention.

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Through the collaboration and work of the council, Alabama has some of the strongest criminal elder abuse laws in the nation. The council meets several times each year to advocate for new state initiatives and laws that better protect Alabama's senior adults.

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Elder Abuse can occur anywhere. Data shows older adults are most often abused by family members or those in a position of trust. Elder abuse is defined as:

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• Abandonment: desertion of an elder by anyone who assumes the responsibility for care or custody of that person

• Emotional abuse: inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder through verbal or nonverbal acts, e.g., humiliating, intimidating, or threatening

• Financial Exploitation: the illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of an elder for someone else's benefit

• Neglect: the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, healthcare, or protection for an elder

• Physical Abuse: inflicting physical pain or injury on an elder, e.g., slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical or chemical means

• Sexual Abuse: non-consensual sexual contact of any kind

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It is important to understand how to prevent and report elder abuse. ADSS has a free Elder Abuse Protection Toolkit available with important information on how to identify, prevent, and report elder abuse. Call 1.800.AGE.LINE (243.5463) to request a toolkit or to contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

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You can also visit www.seniordirectory.com - to see a listing of Elder Care Protection or Elder Care Attorneys by entering your city and state to generate the most current list. From there, you can also register your contact information for a return email or have a representative call you with additional assistance.