If you know or suspect Elder Abuse Contact El Paso County Adult Protective Services
El Paso County Adult Protective Services (APS)
Phone: (719) 444-5755
Colorado Springs Police Department (non-emergency)
Phone: (719) 444-7000
El Paso County Sheriffs Department (non-emergency)
Phone: (719) 444-7100
If you don't feel comfortable contacting a law enforcement agency contact VSC
mvillagomez@VibranceSeniorCare.org
Phone: (719)
Who Can Be A Victim of Elder Abuse ?
Simply put any older adult quantified as 60 years old and older (60 is a U.S. standard of age delineation distinguishing elder abuse from abuse inflicted on other age groups) can potentially be a victim of elder abuse. A majority of those who become victimized are frail, vulnerable and unable to properly help themselves. Moreover, these elders typically rely on the assistance of others (in varying degrees) to meet their basic life needs.
The term "elder abuse" can be a misnomer, it does not simply imply that a victim has been physically assaulted. Yes, physical abuse is an aspect of elder abuse however, it does not constitute nor encompass the entirety of elder abuse. The abusers themselves do not fall into a certain category either, abusers can be family, friends, acquaintances or even strangers.
Types of Abuse
This list of various types of abuse is standardized and courtesy of The Administration of Community Living which is an element of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
-
Physical Abuse—inflicting physical pain or injury on a senior, e.g. slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical or chemical means.
-
Sexual Abuse—non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
-
Neglect—the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder.
-
Exploitation—the illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a senior for someone else's benefit.
-
Emotional Abuse—inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts, e.g. humiliating, intimidating, or threatening.
-
Abandonment—desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
-
Self-neglect—characterized as the failure of a person to perform essential, self-care tasks and that such failure threatens his/her own health or safety.
Citations for this page:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: URL (https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/elderabuse/definitions.html)
Administration for Community Living: URL (https://acl.gov/programs/elder-justice/what-elder-abuse)
National Institute on Aging: URL (https://www.nia.nih.gov/)
U.S Census Bureau: URL (https://www.census.gov/)
Dosomething.org: URL (https://www.dosomething.org)