The Elder
Abuse and Neglect Program
The Elder Abuse and
Neglect Program responds to reports of alleged abuse, neglect or
financial exploitation of persons 60 years of age and older who live in
the community. This
program provides investigation, intervention and follow-up services to
victims. The program stresses the mentally competent older adult’s
right to make their own decisions.
The local Elder Abuse
Provider Agency in Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging’s 10 county
service area is Alternatives for the Older Adult, Inc. Case
workers from this agency conduct investigations and work with older
adults in resolving abusive situations. All Elder Abuse caseworkers are
trained and certified by the Illinois Department on Aging.
Following is a list
of the many forms of elder abuse.
In many cases seniors are subjected to more then one form of abuse.
- Physical Abuse
– inflicting physical pain or injury upon an older adult.
- Sexual abuse
– touching, fondling or any other sexual activity with an older
adult, when the person is unable to understand, unwilling to consent,
threatened or physically forced.
- Emotional abuse
– verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment or intimidation.
Emotional abuse is often coupled with other forms of abuse.
- Confinement
– restraining or isolating an older person, other than for medical
reasons.
- Passive neglect
– the caregiver's failure to provide an older person with life's
necessities, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter or
medical care.
- Willful deprivation
– willfully denying an older person medication, medical care,
shelter, food, a therapeutic device or other physical assistance,
thereby exposing that person to the risk of physical, mental or
emotional harm – except when the dependent person has expressed
intent to forego such care.
- Financial exploitation
– the misuse or withholding of an older person's resources by
another, to the disadvantage of the elderly person and/or the profit
or advantage of someone else.
Any one can report suspected elder abuse. In Illinois certain
professionals are required by law to report suspected elder abuse of
older persons who are unable, due to dysfunction, to report the abuse
themselves.
Following is a
listing of persons delivering professional services to older persons who
are mandatory reporters.
- adult care
- law enforcement
- education
- medicine
- state service to seniors
- social workers
- social services
- paramedics
- emergency medical technicians
If you wish to make a
report of suspected elder abuse in Western Illinois
Area Agency on Aging’s 10 county service area contact:
- Alternatives for the Older
Adult, Inc.
1518 5th avenue
Moline, IL 61265
1-800-369-8724
or (309) 277-0167
After Hours 1-866-800-1409
Web site:
www.4olderadults.org
If you wish to
make a report for anywhere in Illinois contact:
- Illinois Department on Aging's
24 Hour Elder Abuse Hotline
1-866-800-1409,
1-800-544-5304 (TTY).
The reporter should
be prepared to answer the following questions to the best of their
ability...
- The alleged victim's name, address,
telephone number, sex, age and general condition;
- The alleged abuser's name, sex, age,
relationship to victim and condition;
- The circumstances which lead the reporter to
believe that the older person is being abused, neglected or
financially exploited, with as much specificity as possible;
- Whether the alleged victim is in immediate
danger, the best time to contact the person, if he or she knows of
the report, and if there is any danger to the worker going out to
investigate;
- Whether the reporter believes the client
could make a report themselves;
- The name, telephone number and profession of
the reporter;
- The names of others with information about
the situation;
- If the reporter is willing to be contacted
again; and,
- Any other relevant information.
All reports and
records of the Elder Abuse and Neglect Program are subject to strict
confidentiality provisions, except as provided by law or court order.
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