Fact Sheet on Elder Abuse and Neglect in Illinois

• Reported elderly abuse cases rose 163% from 1990 to 1998
• 24% of elderly victims suffer physical abuse
• 44% of abuse victims experience episodes of emotional abuse including verbal assaults, threats, and intimidation
• Financial Exploitation accounts for 54% of all reported cases of elderly abuse
• 4% of elderly abuse victims suffer sexual abuse
• Defined as passive neglect, caregivers fail to provide the elderly person with food, clothing, shelter, medical care or other necessities of one’s life in 38% of all cases
• Willful Deprivation, or the withholding of medication, shelter, food and physical or medical assistance, occurs in 8% of elderly abuse cases
• Confinement accounts for 7% of all reported cases of elderly abuse
• In elderly abuse cases, the victim typically experiences more than one type of abuse
• 76% of reported elder abuse cases involve Caucasian victims while 21% are African American and 3% are Hispanic
• Almost 3/4 of all elderly abuse victims are women
• Elderly people often need others to report cases of abuse or neglect for them especially regarding instances of neglect or willful deprivation where elderly persons are incapable of seeking help for themselves
• 59% of elder abuse perpetrators are male while 41% are female
• 42% of elder abuse offenders are between the ages of 30-49 and 19% are 70 years or older
• 3/4 of alleged abusers are related to the victim
• Adult children of the victim account for 41% of all reported elderly abuse cases
• If you suspect an older person is being abused please contact (800) 252-8966 during regular office hours and (800) 279-0400 after hours.

Illinois Department on Aging

• Information Links on Elder Abuse and Neglect

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