What to Do If You Suspect Elder Abuse

Suspecting that an older adult, a parent, a neighbor, a spouse, is being mistreated is unsettling, and it's common to hesitate: what if you're wrong, what if reporting makes things worse, what if you don't have enough information. None of these resources require certainty before you contact them. Adult Protective Services and the other agencies described below are built to help sort out what's happening, not to demand proof up front. What follows is a clear, ordered set of steps for different situations, along with the correct agency for each one.

Step 1: If there's immediate danger, call 911

If a senior is in immediate physical danger, or you believe a crime is actively occurring, call 911 first. This comes before any other step on this page. Law enforcement and emergency responders can act immediately in a way that no other agency can.

Step 2: Report non-emergency concerns to Adult Protective Services

For suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation that isn't an active emergency, the right agency is Adult Protective Services (APS). APS exists in every state and is the primary government agency responsible for investigating these reports and connecting older adults with protective services. Because APS is administered at the state level, there's no single national phone number to call directly, instead, the reliable way to reach the correct office for any location is the Eldercare Locator, a free service run by the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL). Call 1-800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov, and staff will connect you with the APS agency covering that specific area.

APS investigations can cover several recognized categories of abuse: physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect by a caregiver, self-neglect, and abandonment. You generally don't need to know which category applies, or have solid proof, before making a report. In most states, you can also report anonymously, though the exact policy varies, so ask the agency directly about their process when you call.

Step 3: In a nursing home or assisted living facility, contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman

If the suspected abuse or neglect is happening inside a nursing home, assisted living residence, or similar long-term care facility, your state's Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is the specific resource built for this. Established under the federal Older Americans Act, the Ombudsman program operates in every state through local offices that investigate and help resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, residents of these facilities, covering everything from care quality concerns to suspected abuse. The Eldercare Locator can also direct you to your state's Ombudsman office if you're not sure how to find it.

Step 4: For financial exploitation or scams, use the National Elder Fraud Hotline

Financial exploitation, unusual account activity, a new "friend" suddenly involved in someone's finances, a scam, or pressure to change a will or power of attorney, deserves its own dedicated resource. The National Elder Fraud Hotline, at 1-833-372-8311, is run by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime specifically for adults 60 and older who may have experienced financial fraud. It's staffed seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, with case managers who can assess the situation, help with reporting to the right agencies, and connect callers to further resources. This is worth using alongside, not instead of, a report to Adult Protective Services, since the two serve different but overlapping purposes.

If the situation involves legal documents, such as a power of attorney, a will, or guardianship, an elder law attorney can help evaluate the legal side separately from any APS investigation. Your state or local bar association's elder law section can provide a referral, or you can search the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) directory at naela.org.

Step 5: Other resources if you're not sure where to start

If you're still unsure whether what you're seeing counts as abuse, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), at ncea.acl.gov, is a federally funded information and education resource. It's not a crisis line, but it's a good place to learn more without committing to filing a report first. If ongoing caregiving stress is part of the picture, whether you're the caregiver or concerned about one, our Family Caregiver Support Eligibility Checker can help identify local support programs as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

This article provides general information and directs readers to official resources. It does not investigate reports or provide legal advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For non-emergency concerns, contact your state's Adult Protective Services agency.