Today, June 15, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is an uncomfortable and tragic reality that is unfortunately on the rise. The U.S. Administration on Aging estimates that as many as 1 in 10 older Americans are abused or neglected each year. Last year alone, a staggering 24,978 elder abuse reports were received in Massachusetts, along with 7,117 newly confirmed allegations of mistreatment — a 37 percent and 57 percent increase respectively since 2011. Alice Bonner, Secretary of the MA Executive Office of Elderly Affairs (EOEA), oversees the agency dedicated to alleviating the problem, and has helpful suggestions on how to assist this vulnerable segment of the population.
Bonner’s department encompasses a statewide system that receives and investigates elder abuse reports. It also provides necessary protective services to thousands of victims. Elder Affairs is sub-divided into 20 designated Protective Services agencies throughout the state. Each of the regional offices manages local reports of abuse and neglect.
Secretary Alice Bonner, Ph.D., MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs (Credit: Executive Office of Elder Affairs)
Besides their protective role, the EOEA offers comfort and care through many in-home services, diminishing the isolation that often puts the elderly at a higher risk for abuse. “Working with older adults to help them to live well and thrive is a number 1 priority for the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs,” Bonner says. “Protecting elders from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation is part of that goal.”
Elder abuse is a scandal that spans all socio-economic sectors. Without recourse to outside help, victims must contend with their physical and emotional trauma alone. It is a problem that has implications for everyone. The Protective Services’ philosophy is that “freedom from abuse or neglect is a basic human right; as a society, failure to protect vulnerable elders from abuse or neglect diminishes all of us.”
She clearly had no other motivation than charity and kindness for that man — who, after all, was not even able to thank her.
Mistreatment of older adults can manifest in a number of ways, including physical, emotional or sexual abuse. It may also take the form of financial exploitation. Although elderly neglect is usually the fault of caregivers, there are some people who self-neglect because of physical or mental incapacitation.
EOEA studies show that most abusers are family members; however, trusted professional and service providers can also be perpetrators. Moreover, the abuse may happen in any setting, such as an older adult’s own home, in nursing homes, and in assisted living facilities.
Bonner notes that the loss of housing is probably the biggest issue for lower income elders who are abused. Scams and financial exploitation, which are associated problems, continue to be a growing area of vulnerability for seniors.
Regardless of income, the EOEA assists all individuals over the age of 60 who reside in the Commonwealth. To manage the workload, the Protective Services agencies divide their cases into two principal categories: investigation and ongoing services. First, they must ascertain whether and what type of elder abuse has occurred. In 2015, for example, they completed an average of 1,051 investigations per month.
When investigators have verified the ill-treatment, they decide which type of service or support is needed to address and end the abuse. Last year, Protective Services averaged 1,028 ongoing cases, with the total number of cases per month averaging 2,079.
The increase in the total number of EOEA intakes and cases in the last five years is a sobering statistic:
Total number of Protective Services intakes/cases reported:
Nevertheless, the added numbers have not diminished the agency’s vigilance. More than ever, EOEA workers are determined “to remedy or alleviate the abusive situation and to prevent the reoccurrence of abuse.”
“We encourage everyone to come together to take a stand against abuse, and to reach out to support elders in your community.” — Secretary Alice Bonner, Ph.D
I had first-hand experience with one of their staff members, an investigator from the Springfield area. The case worker had been helping a homeless man who, after finally moving into an apartment, fell ill and died. This lady read my article on the Lazarus Ministry, which provides free burials for needy people without a family to help them. She contacted me to see if I could connect her with the organization to procure a burial for the deceased gentleman.
Needless to say, I was amazed at the case worker’s dedication. She clearly had no other motivation than charity and kindness for that man — who, after all, was not even able to thank her.
Besides recruiting dedicated staff, Bonner emphasizes that every person can make a difference in his or her local community. When people ask how they can help at-risk seniors, she encourages them to reach out if they know of someone who shows signs of abuse or neglect. She also suggests that, as a society, we need to talk more about the problem and raise awareness of the issue. It is also important to engage every community in local solutions, and to educate others about the impact of this widespread tragedy.
“We encourage everyone to come together to take a stand against abuse, and to reach out to support elders in your community,” Bonner explains.
To report suspected elder abuse or neglect, please call the Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-922-2275.
(Adobe Stock photo) 
