Elder Rights
Boulder County Area Agency on Aging works to protect the rights of elders to live safely, with dignity and to be free from abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.
Elder Abuse Awareness
- Each year, an estimated 5 million older adults are abused, neglected, or exploited.
- Some estimates put losses from elder abuse over $36 billion or more annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that could be used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care.
- Elder abuse occurs in every demographic and can happen to anyone—a family member, a neighbor, even you.
- It is estimated that only one in 24 of these crimes are reported.
- Most elder abuse is perpetrated by a person close to an older adult. Only around four percent of elder abuse is perpetrated by strangers and formal, or paid, caregivers.
Reporting Elder Abuse
Abuse of an older adult can happen in many ways. They might be kept from seeing family or friends. Money might be used without consent, or there could be threats of harm. Often times, the older adult may have their health, general care, or emotional needs neglected.
- Mandatory Reporting – Elder abuse is now reportable by specific groups of people that work with or come in contact with older adults. They should receive training to identify elder abuse and report it according to legal requirements. Learn more about mandatory reporting. Reports of elder abuse by mandatory reporters should be made to local law enforcement within 24 hours.
- Reporting – For the rest of us, while not mandated, we are encouraged to call Adult Protective Services (303-441-1309) with concerns or 911 in an emergency.
The BCAAA is a member of the Elder Justice Coalition, a collaboration of local agencies including Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, Safehouse of St. Vrain, Moving to End Sexual Assault, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement in multiple municipalities in Boulder County, Adult Protective Services, City of Boulder and Longmont, and other agencies that serve older adults. We continually work to raise awareness, prevent elder abuse and provide a collaborative community response to elder abuse.
