One in 10 adults over the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse, according to the National Council on Aging. It labels these despicable acts a silent problem that robs seniors of their dignity, security and, in some cases, costs them their lives.
It’s a silent problem because most cases go unreported, says Velencia Myton, director of adult protective services for Palos Heights-based eldercare services provider Pathlights. The nonprofit is in the midst of a June fundraising campaign to help improve safety of older adults and adults with disabilities.
Pathlights also released a new video to help educate people on how to spot signs of abuse and report it, part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Month activities. Pathlights is the state designated adult protective services provider for Palos, Lemont, Orland, Worth and Stickney townships.
“It’s important to get involved because this vulnerable population needs help, and the community and family members need to pay more attention to this population,” Myton said. “They need to visit more, so they know the baseline and are able to notice when there is a change or decline.”
Estimates are that as many as five million older Americans are abused every year, and the annual loss by victims of financial abuse range between $2.6 billion to as high as $36.5 billion, according to the National Council on Aging.
Illinois Department on Aging data show there were 31,986 reported cases of elder abuse in fiscal year 2022. Among the nine types of potential abuse, financial abuse topped the list with 8,467 cases, followed by 5,943 for emotional abuse, 5,370 for passive neglect, 4,488 for self-neglect, 3,589 for physical abuse, 2,261 for willful deprivation, 1,162 for confinement and 706 for sexual abuse, Myton said.
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Only one in 14 of all cases of abuse nationally are reported, Myton said. But the situation could be even worse. One study found the elder abuse incidence rate in New York State alone was nearly 24 times greater than the number of cases referred to social service, law enforcement and other legal authorities.
Seniors are reluctant to report abuse because they’re embarrassed or because the person who is allegedly abusing them is a family member, Myton explained.
“They don’t want that person to get in trouble,” she said. “Sometimes they aren’t capable of reporting due to cognitive decline. Sometimes they are afraid they won’t be believed.”
When people have been abused, “It’s about helping that older adult feel empowered and able to be a part of the community and remain in their home if that’s where they want to be,” said Pathlights Resource Development Manager Alison Parker. “We want to do all we can to support that. It’s better for all of us. It saves us more money as a society to keep people in their home.”
Parker added it’s also important from an intergenerational standpoint.
“You want diverse communities with people of different ages,” she said. “It’s important to making us a well-rounded community.”
Pathlights investigated 495 allegations of abuse in FY 2022, up 12% from FY 2021, and 21% of cases were due to financial exploitation, according to Parker.
When someone makes a report of suspected abuse to Pathlights, a caseworker visits the alleged victim and uses screening tools to assess if that person has the mental capacity to direct the investigation and make decisions for himself or herself.
“The adult protective services program is a client-directed program,” Myton said. “If they have the capacity to make their own decision, they direct who we talk to, what documents we can gather.”
They also have the right to decline the entire investigation, she said adding, “If they don’t have the capacity, we proceed ahead with a thorough investigation.”
The agency has 30 days to complete its investigation and decide whether the allegation was substantiated or that there was no evidence of abuse, Myton said. If abuse is substantiated, a case plan is established to eliminate the risk of the abuse happening again, and if there’s evidence of criminal activity, they are required to notify the police. But if the client refuses to proceed with a case plan, the case will close at that point, she said.
Pathlights, which marks its 48th year in operation this month, annually provides a range of free services to 16,000 adults aged 60 and older, disabled adults, their families and caregivers in 20 communities in the south and southwest suburbs. Services include home-delivered meals, help connecting clients to government benefit programs, caregiver support and in-home services.
Funds raised from Pathlights campaign, which runs through the end of the month, will exclusively support safety, said Parker. Pathlights’ goal is to raise $10,000, which would be roughly double what it raised in June 2022, she said. Pathlights is funded by government grants, which don’t sufficiently cover costs, as well as by foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors, Parker said.
A Pathlights success story Myton highlighted involved a case in which it was reported that $91,000 was taken out of somebody’s bank account.
“The APS case worker immediately called the bank and found out about a wire transfer and requested that the bank put a freeze or flag the victim’s account,” Myton said. “The caseworker contacted the alleged abuser, started questioning why the money was transferred, who authorized it and to let them know this was being investigated for financial exploitation. Within 24 hours, the alleged abuser transferred the money back to the victim’s account.”
Often victims’ money is not recovered, but plans can be put in place to help prevent future abuse, Myton said.
As for warning signs of potential financial exploitation, Myton said, “immediate signs are bills not being paid, falling behind on property taxes, not being able to purchase groceries and medications, things they routinely had been doing but all of a sudden they are no longer able to do.”
Sudden, big purchases or withdrawals reflected on their bank account are also red flags along with wire transfers and online shopping.
“These are things that seniors don’t normally do,” she said.
Pathlights created a 20-minute training video to help community leaders, local governments, businesses, and professionals within the four townships identify and prevent abuse of older adults and adults with disabilities. The video, funded by the Violent Crime Victim Assistance Bureau, is accessible for free from Pathlights website. A tool kit is also available.
Go to Pathlights.org/resources/abuse-prevention-protection. To donate to the campaign, go to pathlights.org/donate. Pathlights also will host a free lunch and learn event at 11:30 a.m. June 27, at Moraine Valley Community College, Building M, at 9000 College Parkway, Palos Hills. Registration is required. Go to pathlights.org/events.
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Concerns of abuse should be reported quickly and can be made anonymously by calling the state 24-hour hotline at 1-866-800-1409 or 1-888-206-1327 (TTY) or by calling Pathlights at 708-361-0219. If there is a life-threatening situation, call 911.
Francine Knowles is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.