As part of our Hope For Isolated Seniors program, we have the opportunity to get an inside look at what is happening to our Senior Clients. We want to make you aware of how serious this issue is.
- In 2020, Kentucky received 23,766 reports alleging abuse, neglect, or exploitation of seniors.
- Of these reports, 7,022 cases were substantiated after investigation by Adult Protective Services.
- The Kentucky Attorney General’s office reported about 1,300 referrals related to elder abuse in 2023 through hotlines and other reporting channels.
Types of elder abuse in Kentucky
From investigated cases in Kentucky (example breakdown from APS investigations):
- Self-neglect: 3,435 referrals (980 substantiated)
- Caretaker neglect: 2,032 referrals (158 substantiated)
- Direct abuse: 1,212 referrals (102 substantiated)
Common forms of abuse include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional/psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Neglect or abandonment
Who commits elder abuse
Research consistently finds:
- Most abuse is committed by someone the victim knows, often a family member or caregiver.
- Many victims do not report abuse because they depend on the abuser for care or financial support.
Elder population context in Kentucky
- More than 20% of Kentucky’s population is age 60 or older, and the share is expected to exceed 25% by 2030, increasing the importance of elder abuse prevention.
- Over 20,000 seniors live in nursing homes in the state.
Additional findings
- Kentucky has ranked high nationally for legal protections against elder abuse in some recent analyses (5th in one 2024 study).
- However, abuse in nursing homes and home-based caregiving remains a major concern.
How to recognize elder abuse
Elder abuse comes in six different forms—physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect and abandonment. Abuse can be difficult to detect because abusers tend to isolate their victims, and because victims are sometimes hesitant to report abuse or to even admit to witnessing it when questioned by others. Due to underreporting or isolation, you might have to discover abuse by looking at external signs of abuse such as:
- Unexplained injuries: If your loved one lives in a nursing home, bedsores are a sign of nursing home neglect. Bruises might indicate physical abuse, and abrasions on the wrists or ankles might suggest inappropriate restraints.
- Sudden behavioral changes: Moodiness, withdrawal from social interaction and increased anxiety when certain people are present are indicators of abuse.
- Poor hygiene or malnutrition: Poor hygiene indicates neglect if the victim is unable to bathe or wash themselves. Weight loss, dehydration, dirty clothing, untreated medical problems or a generally unkempt appearance suggest neglect.
- Unsanitary living conditions: Dirty bedding, unsafe living arrangements, or pest infestations may be signs of neglect or abandonment.
- Unusual financial activity: Unexplained withdrawals from the victim’s bank account, a missing ATM card, changes in insurance beneficiaries, missing possessions (jewelry, for example), or unpaid bills could be signs of financial exploitation.
- Anxiety in the presence of a caregiver: The victim may appear nervous around a caregiver, or they might defer answers to all questions to their caregiver.
- STDs or genital injuries: STDs in particular are likely to indicate sexual abuse. This is particularly likely if the victim is unable to consent to sexual relations (a dementia victim, for example). Genital injuries can indicate non-consensual sexual relations, since consensual activity is less likely to result in injury.
By carefully observing unexplained changes in physical condition, behavior, finances, or living circumstances, you can uncover the critical red flags of potential elder abuse.
How to report elder abuse
Every state’s system for reporting elder abuse differs from every other, and Kentucky is no exception. Here is a list of who to call under what circumstances in Kentucky:
- In an emergency, call 911. This applies if the elder is in immediate danger, requires urgent medical attention, or if there’s a crime in progress.
- In a non-emergency where you suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult, contact Adult Protective Services (APS). You can call them at 877-597-2331. You can also call the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Hotline, which is the primary intake for APS, at 800-752-6200.
- If the suspected abuse occurs in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, you should also call the Nursing Home Hotline at 1-800-810-1819 to trigger a state investigation.
- For issues within a nursing home or assisted living facility where you need an advocate or have concerns about resident rights (which can include abuse/neglect), contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
You can call two or more of the above-listed parties if appropriate under the circumstances.
Required information for effective reporting
Provide as much of the following information as you have access to:
- The victim’s full name, current address, approximate age, date of birth, and medical condition. If the victim suffers from dementia, include that information.
- Identifying details of the perpetrator including name, address, relationship to the victim, and how they gain access to the victim (because they work for a nursing home, for example).
- A description of the abuse. Be as specific as possible.
- Where and when the incidents of abuse occurred.
- Specify any urgent needs, and state whether the victim is in any immediate danger.
- State how you learned about the abuse—direct observation, conversation with the victim, etc.
- Provide the names and contact details of any witnesses to the abuse.
