SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department on Aging highlights the warning signs of adult abuse on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and how to put a stop to it in Illinois. Observed annually on June 15, serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations and communities to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults. Every year, an estimated one in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly underreported, in part because many communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it. Research suggests that as few as one in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities.
Illinois’ Adult Protective Services program aims to prevent and resolves instances of abuse against older adults and persons with disabilities aged 18-59. The program is coordinated through 39 local provider agencies, whose trained caseworkers investigate allegations of abuse and connect victims with appropriate resources.
For information on the warning signs of adult abuse, visit https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/Engage/Pages/default.aspx
To report suspected abuse, exploitation or neglect of an older adult or person with a disability, call the statewide, 24-hour APS hotline at 1-866-800-1409.
Mon - Fri: 03:00 PM - 07:00 PM
