Elder abuse can is a national issue that threatens the lives of society’s most vulnerable, and the San Diego County Aging Independence Services asks residents to be aware of the signs as local numbers have increased in recent years.
San Diego County estimated that almost 23 percent of its population will be 65 or older by 2025.
Every year on June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day brings to light several forms of abuse, such as physical abuse, financial abuse, neglect and abandonment, isolation, abduction, or other poor treatment leading to the harm, pain or mental suffering of adults 60 years or older.
Neglect can include failure to provide goods and services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness.
According to figures by the U.S. Department of Justice, at least 10 percent of adults age 65 and older will be a victim of elder abuse in a given year. Some older adults simultaneously experience more than one type of abuse.
“Sadly, whether it’s due to fear of retaliation, or worse, many of our elders don’t talk about the abuse they’ve endured,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Elder abuse can take many insidious forms, including the neglect of a caregiver, financial exploitation, and sexual, physical, and mental abuse. Too often, the perpetrators of these egregious actions are those we trust the most to take care of our loved ones. Our elders should never suffer, especially in silence. I urge Californians to look at the warning signs, and to report confirmed or suspected mistreatment to our Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse at oag.ca.gov/dmfea/reporting.”
Recent figures from the San Diego Association of Government's annual crime report, 42 Years of Crime in the San Diego Region: 1980 through 2021, show that in 2021, there were 1,131 violent crimes against seniors, a 10 percent increase from previous years. The report found these crimes included 10 homicides, 30 rapes, 235 robberies, and 856 aggravated assaults.
Of the ten reporting agencies, only seven had numbers large enough to compare over time, with five reporting one-year increases, ranging from 7 percent for Chula Vista to 32 percent for El Cajon.
San Diego County is proactively working to reduce the likelihood of abuse by addressing risk factors, including social isolation, and building community support. One of the tools used to address risk factors is the Aging Roadmap, a comprehensive plan for services to make the county a better place for residents as they age.
Anonymous reports of abuse can be made by calling the County’s Adult Protective Services (APS) at (800) 339-4661. In addition, people may contact the California Department of Justice by:
- Mailing a written complaint to the California Department of Justice Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244-2550.
- Calling the hotline: Phone toll-free: (800) 722-0432, Attorney General's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.
- Filing a complaint with the Attorney General's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) online at: oag.ca.gov/dmfea/reporting.
For more information on Adult Protective Services and elder abuse resources, visit the APS website .
