Combatting Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation: A Community Discussion Diane D. Welborn, Ombudsman The Ombudsman Office 11 West Monument Avenue, Suite 606 Dayton, Ohio 45402 937-223-4613 937-228-1183 Fax

A Violation of Older People’s Human Rights Elder abuse can be defined as "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person". Elder abuse can take various forms such as physical, psychological or emotional, sexual and financial abuse. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect.

The Scope of the Problem A 2017 United Nations study based on the best available evidence from 52 studies in 28 countries from diverse regions, including 12 low- and middle-income countries, estimated that, over the past year, 15.7% of people aged 60 years and older were subjected to some form of abuse. This is likely to be an underestimation, as only 1 in 24 cases of elder abuse is reported, in part because older people are often afraid to report cases of abuse to family, friends, or to the authorities. Consequently, any prevalence rates are likely to be underestimated.

Estimates of older people impacted by types of abuse Although rigorous data are limited, the study provides pooled prevalence estimates of number of older people affected by different types of abuse: psychological abuse: 11.6% financial abuse: 6.8% neglect: 4.2% physical abuse: 2.6% sexual abuse: 0.9%

Incidents are predicted to increase Globally, the number of cases of elder abuse is projected to increase as many countries have rapidly aging populations whose needs may not be fully met due to resource constraints. It is predicted that by the year 2050, the global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from 900 million in 2015 to about 2 billion, with the vast majority of older people living in low- and middle-income countries. If the proportion of elder abuse victims remains constant, the number of victims will increase rapidly due to population aging, growing to 320 million victims by 2050.

How many older Americans are abused? Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year. One study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse are reported to authorities. (National Council on Aging)

Ways to Prevent Elder Abuse Help older persons take care of their health Encourage older persons to plan for the future by having a Power of Attorney and living will Encourage persons to stay active in the community and connected with family and friends to decrease social isolation Advise persons to post and open their own mail

Ways to Prevent Elder Abuse Encourage the use of direct deposits Encourage older persons to have their own phone Advise older persons to not give personal information over the telephone. Help older persons to know their rights with respect to caregivers, whether in their own home or in a nursing home

Thank you!