ELDER ABUSE STATISTICS AND DATA

CLICK ON THE "LEARN MORE" AFTER ANY OF THESE STATS TO READ THE SOURCE MATERIALS.

• Elder Abuse can happen to anyone, affecting both men and women, all cultures, races, and socio-economic groups.

​​

• Elder abuse can happen anywhere; in a person’s own home, in hospitals and nursing homes, in assisted living facilities, and other institutional settings.

​​

• Women and “older” elders (80 years old and older) are the most common victims of elder abuse. Learn more.

​​

• Elder abuse is most often perpetrated by the victim’s own family members. 90% of abusers are family members; most often adult children, spouses/partners, and others. Learn more. 

​​

• Elder abuse is largely unreported. The National Center on Elder Abuse suggests that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse is actually reported to the authorities. Learn more.

​​

• A 2010 study reported that approximately 11% of the elderly population in the United States had experienced abuse or neglect in the year prior. However, this study did not include those elders who suffer from dementia or those living long-term care facilities. This is especially notable because it is believed that those elders who suffer from dementia are at an increased risk of being abused. Learn more. 

​​

• Major financial exploitation is self-reported at a higher rate than self-reported rates of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect. Learn more.

• According to a 2011 study, older Americans lose a minimum of $2.9 billion annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation. Learn more.

​​

• Elders who experience abuse, neglect, or self-neglect face considerably higher risk of premature death than elders who have not been mistreated. Learn more. 

• Older adults who are abused or mistreated are three times more likely to die within the next decade than the same age adults who are not mistreated. Learn more.