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Family Life Center

A Domestic / Sexual Violence Center and Emergency Shelter

24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 386-437-3505 or 1-800-500-1119

Information About

Domestic/ Sexual Violence

How Are the Elderly Affected?

Elderly Victims may face more challenges when attempting to leave an abusive relationship to protect themselves. Elderly survivors are often abused by their spouses and/ or caretakers. It is not uncommon for caretakers (many are adult children of the victim) to withhold medical treatment, food, and other basic necessities as a form of manipulation and control. The elderly represent a large underserved and underreported demographic of the abused.

Legally, an older victim who is mentally & physically healthy, abused by a spouse or companion is a victim of domestic violence (not elder abuse)

In 1995 the legislature adopted a law making abuse or neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult a FELONY.

Elderly Abuse Trends

According to the best available estimates, between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection.
( Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in an Aging America. 2003. Washington, DC: National Research Council Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect.)

Data on elder abuse in domestic settings suggest that 1 in 14 incidents, excluding incidents of self-neglect, come to the attention of authorities.
(Pillemer, Karl, and David Finkelhor. 1988. "The Prevalence of Elder Abuse: A Random Sample Survey," The Gerontologist, 28: 51-57.)

A University of Iowa study based on 1999 data found 190,005 domestic elder abuse reports from 17 states; 242,430 domestic elder abuse investigations from 47 states; and 102,879 substantiations from 35
states. Significantly higher investigation rates were found for states that require mandatory reporting and tracking of reports.
(Jogerst, Gerald J., et al. 2003. “Domestic Elder Abuse and the Law,” American Journal of Public
Health, Vol. 93, No. 12: 2131-2136.)

Elder abuse includes physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, and mental abuse, and, often times, cruel neglect.

If you are or know someone who is a victim of elder abuse there is HELP. Your are not alone. Flagler County, FL area residents call

the Family Life Center

24-Hour Hotline 386-437-35059:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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