If you think someone you love is being hurt, neglected, or financially exploited, that fear is worth acting on. You do not need proof, and you do not need to be certain. This guide walks you through how to recognize elder abuse and exactly who to call for each situation, so you can report it today.

Trusting your gut here is the hard part. Maybe the bruises do not match the story. Maybe money is disappearing from an account, or a new "friend" has taken over your father's finances and started keeping the rest of the family away. You do not have to prove anything before you speak up. Reporting a concern is not an accusation, it is a request for a trained professional to take a look.

The frustrating thing is that the help is real but scattered. Federal agencies each handle their own slice, and every state runs its own reporting system, so no single official page tells a worried family member the whole picture. Below is that whole picture: the signs, the right phone number for each situation, and an honest account of what happens after you call.

In This Guide

First, Recognize It: The Types of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is the mistreatment of an older adult, usually someone age 60 or older, and it takes more than one form. Knowing the categories helps you name what you are seeing.

  • Physical abuse: causing bodily harm, such as hitting or pushing.
  • Emotional or psychological abuse: hurtful words, threats, intimidation, or cutting the older adult off from friends and family.
  • Sexual abuse: forcing an older adult to watch or take part in sexual acts.
  • Neglect: a caregiver failing to meet the older adult's needs for food, shelter, health care, or protection.
  • Abandonment: deserting an older adult who needs care without arranging for it.
  • Financial abuse or exploitation: stealing or misusing an older adult's money, property, or benefits.

The warning signs follow the same lines. Physical signs include unexplained bruises, black eyes, welts, burns, cuts, or rope marks. Behavioral signs include a sudden change, becoming withdrawn or agitated, or a caregiver who controls and isolates the person. Financial signs are often the quietest and the most overlooked: sudden changes in bank accounts, an unexplained withdrawal of large sums (frequently by someone who came in with the older adult), unauthorized ATM withdrawals, or abrupt changes to a will, deed, or beneficiary. Any one of these can have an innocent explanation. Two or three together are worth a call.

How to Report Elder Abuse: Who to Call, by Situation

This is the part every family gets tangled in, because the right number depends on what is happening. Here is the decision, laid out.

If the situation is... Call this Number
Immediate, life-threatening danger 911 911
Ongoing abuse, neglect, or exploitation (not an emergency) Your state or local Adult Protective Services Find it through the Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116
A scam or financial fraud targeting an older adult The DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline 833-372-8311
Money being moved or stolen from an account The older adult's bank, plus a report to APS Your bank's fraud line
A crime you want investigated Local police or the district attorney 911 or the non-emergency police line

The workhorse of this list is Adult Protective Services (APS), the government program that receives and responds to reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities. Every state runs its own APS program, so there is no single national APS number to memorize. The reliable way in is the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, a nationwide service funded by the federal Administration for Community Living that connects you to the right local agency. You can also reach your state APS through the National Adult Protective Services Association at 202-370-6292.

For scams and financial fraud, the National Elder Fraud Hotline, run by the U.S. Department of Justice, is staffed to help you report and to guide you to the right local, state, and federal contacts. Its number is 833-372-8311. If money is actively being drained from a bank or investment account, call the institution's fraud line too, because they can freeze activity faster than any agency can.

The Numbers to Keep

Save these three in your phone before you need them:

What Happens After You Report Elder Abuse

Families often expect that a report leads to a rescue, and it helps to have a realistic picture instead. When you contact APS, they receive the report and respond to it, but exactly how they follow up, and how far it goes, varies from one state to the next.

What APS does next also varies by state, so the most useful thing you can do is ask rather than assume. When you call, ask your state's APS what it can and cannot do in a situation like yours (the services it can offer, and the limits on what it is able to arrange), or ask the Eldercare Locator to point you to the right people. Making the report is still the right move: it puts a trained professional on notice and creates a record, even when the outcome is not the one you hoped for.

If You're Not Sure, or Want to Stay Anonymous

You do not have to be certain, and you do not have to hand over evidence. If something feels wrong, report the concern and let the professionals sort out what it is. Whether you can report without giving your name is set by each state, so when you call your state APS or the Eldercare Locator, ask how anonymous reporting works where the older adult lives. The worst outcome is not an awkward call. It is staying silent while something gets worse.

Why This System Exists

If it feels like elder abuse gets less attention than it should, there is history behind that. The Elder Justice Act, enacted in 2010, was the first comprehensive federal law aimed at the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults. It is the reason APS programs receive federal support and coordination today. The reporting system you are using traces back to it, even if the number you dial is your own state's.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I call to report elder abuse?

For immediate danger, call 911. For non-emergency abuse, neglect, or exploitation, contact your state or local Adult Protective Services, which you can find through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. For scams and financial fraud, call the DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.

Can I report elder abuse anonymously?

The rules on anonymous reporting are set by each state, so it depends on where the older adult lives. Ask your state APS or the Eldercare Locator how it works there, including whether you can report without giving your name.

What happens after I report to APS?

APS receives your report and responds to it, but what that response looks like, and how far it goes, varies from state to state. Ask your state APS what it can and cannot do in a case like yours. Making the report still matters: it puts the concern on record with people trained to look into it.

How do I report financial exploitation of an elderly person?

Call the older adult's bank or investment firm to flag and freeze suspicious activity, report the concern to your state Adult Protective Services, and, for scams and fraud, call the DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311. Watch for unexplained large withdrawals and sudden changes to a will, deed, or beneficiary.,

What if I'm not sure it's really abuse?

Report it anyway. You are not expected to prove anything, and a report is not an accusation. If something feels wrong, a trained caseworker can look into it, which is exactly what the system is for.

Learn More

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If you are worried about an older adult and not sure which call to make first, find personalized help sorting out the right reporting channel at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.