According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, reliable studies suggest that between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 and older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone whom they depended on for care or protection. Additionally, it is estimated that for every case of elder abuse reported, about five more go unreported. It is likely that many of these cases go unreported simply because people do not know where to turn for help or what the process is for reporting suspected abuse.
The National Center on Elder Abuse and the National Adult Protective Services Association collaborated to publish a fact sheet that provides pertinent information about Adult Protective Services. The fact sheet includes information about what Adult Protective Services (APS) is and what they do, how to report elder or vulnerable adult abuse, client protections under APS, and frequently asked questions. Among the frequently asked questions, you will find further information about making a report anonymously, confidentiality rules of APS, what to do if someone close to you was reported, and individual rights as the subject of a report, why some cases are closed, and when involuntary intervention is or is not plausible.