Elder Abuse
If you suspect someone is the victim of abuse please call 1-800-96-ABUSE to make a complaint.
“Elderly person” means a person 60 years of age or older who is suffering from the infirmities of aging as manifested by advanced age or organic brain damage, or other physical, mental, or emotional dysfunctioning, to the extent that the ability of the person to provide adequately for the person’s own care or protection is impaired. §825.101(5), Florida Statutes.
Domestic elder abuse generally refers to any of the following types of mistreatment that are committed by someone with whom the elder has a special relationship (for example, a spouse, sibling, child, friend, or caregiver).
Institutional abuse generally refers to any of the following types of mistreatment occurring in residential facilities (such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, group home, board and care facility, foster home, etc.) as is usually perpetrated by someone with a legal or contractual obligation to provide some element of care or protection.
Elder abuse can affect people of all ethnic backgrounds and social status and can affect both men and women. The following types of abuse are commonly accepted as the major categories of elder mistreatment:
- Physical Abuse- inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need.
- Emotional Abuse- Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts.
- Sexual Abuse- Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, coercing an elder to witness sexual behaviors.
- Exploitation- Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.
- Neglect- Refusal of failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care or protection for a vulnerable elder.
- Abandonment- The desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.