Elder Abuse Resources

Each year hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited by family members and others. Of the known cases of elderly abuse and neglect, researchers say 89 percent happened in private homes, and more than half at the hands of children or other relatives.

Many victims are people who are older, frail, and vulnerable and cannot help themselves and depend on others to meet their most basic needs.

What is elder abuse?

Elder abuse is an umbrella term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.

What makes an older adult vulnerable to abuse?

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, social isolation and mental impairment (such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease) are two factors that may make an older person more vulnerable to abuse. But, in some situations, studies show that living with someone else (a caregiver or a friend) may increase the chances for abuse to occur. A history of domestic violence may also make a senior more susceptible to abuse.

What should you do if you see or hear of abuse?

If you see someone being physically hurt or threatened with a weapon, call a law enforcement emergency line such as 911. Be part of their "safety plan," the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life recommends. A safety plan is created by the victim with the help of a professional. The intent is to plan for a victim's safety needs before another violent episode erupts. If you believe they are in immediate danger, call 911.

Are there criminal penalties for the abusers?

It is a violation of State and Federal law for any person, including facility staff, volunteers, visitors, family members or guardians, or another resident, to neglect or abuse a resident. The National Academy of Elder Law Attornies can help.

Although there are variations across the country, in most states there are several laws that address criminal penalties for various types of elder abuse. Laws vary state to state. Some states have increased penalties for those who victimize older adults. Increasingly, across the country, law enforcement officers and prosecutors are trained on elder abuse and ways to use criminal and civil laws to bring abusers to justice.

To learn more about the elderly:

• Click here for the National Center on Elder Abuse's link to state elder abuse hotlines.

• The National Clearninghouse on Abuse in Later Life has useful resources for preventing elder abuse.

• The Foundation Aiding The Elderly serves as a voice for patients and to bring about national reforms.

• The Administration on Aging website is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of a wide variety of topics, programs and services related to aging.

• You can locate elder care facilities throught the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging.

• Click here for more information about National Citizens' Commission for Nursing Home Reform.

Alabama
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://www.adph.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1
Facility Check: http://ph.state.al.us/facilitiesdirectory/(S(scykto45clv5nt45xijs2bea))/Default.aspx
Laws: http://www.adph.org/providers/assets/ALFrules_Amended%20July%2026,%202006_.pdf

Alaska
Term: Assisted Living Homes
General Info: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dsds/
Facility Check: 907-269-3640
Laws: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/CL/PDFs/ALHGuidebook.pdf

Arizona
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://www.azdhs.gov/als/hcb/
Facility Check: http://pub.hs.state.az.us/datasvcs/als2/als_alfac/search/m_searchform.cfm
Laws: http://www.azsos.gov/public_services/Title_09/9-10.htm

Arkansas
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://www.arkansas.gov/dhhs/aging/assistedliving.html
Facility Check: 501-682-8468
Laws: http://www.arhspa.org/public_notice/rulebook_october2006.pdf

California
Term: Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly
General Info: http://ccld.ca.gov/
Facility Check: http://www.ccld.ca.gov/docs/ccld_search/ccld_search.aspx
Laws: http://ccld.ca.gov/Res/pdf/RCFCIact2005.pdf#xml=http://ccld.ca.gov/dtSearchASP/dtsearch2.asp?cmd=pdfhits&DocId=538&Index=d%3a%5cinetpub%5capproot%5cdtsearchindexes%5cCCLD&HitCount=3&hits=f8+f9+fa+&hc=12&req=residential+care+facilites

Colorado
Term: Assisted Living Residences
General Info: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hf/static/pcbhpp.htm
Facility Check: http://www.hfemsd1.dphe.state.co.us/hfd2003/homebase.aspx?Ftype=pcbhpp&Do=list
Laws: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/regulations/healthfacilities/10110107assistedlivingresidences.pdf

Connecticut
Term: Assisted Living Services Agencies
General Info: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/regulations/healthfacilities/10110107assistedlivingresidences.pdf
Facility Check: http://www.dph.state.ct.us/Scripts/hlthfac.asp
Laws: 860-509-7400

Delaware
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
Facility Check & Laws: 302-577-6661
-No web links –

Florida
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://ahca.myflorida.com/MCHQ/Long_Term_Care/Assisted_living/index.shtml
Facility Check: 850-487-2515
Laws:http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0419/SEC001.HTM&Title=->2006->Ch0419->Section%20001#0419.001

Georgia
Term: Personal Care Homes
General Info: http://www.ors.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-ORS/
Facility Check:
http://www.sitesearch.decal.state.ga.us/georgiadecal/public/providersearch.aspx
Laws: 404-657-4076

Hawaii
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://www.state.hi.us/doh/resource/ohca
Facility Check/Laws: 808-586-4060, 808-692-7400

Idaho
Term: Residential Care/Assisted Living
General Info: http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/site/3628/default.aspx
Facility Check: 208-334-6626 http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/DesktopModules/Documents/DocumentsView.aspx?tabID=0&ItemID=4276&MId=11609&wversion=Staging
Laws: http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/site/3630/default.aspx

Illinois
Term: Assisted Living or Shared Housing Establishment
General Info: http://www.idph.state.il.us/
Facility Check: 217-782-2913
Laws: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/077/07700295sections.html

Indiana
Term: Residential Care Facilities
General Info: http://www.in.gov/isdh/regsvcs/providers/
Facility Check: 317-233-1325
Laws: http://www.ai.org/legislative/ic/code/title16/ar28/ch1.html

Iowa
Term: Assisted Living Programs
General Info: http://www.state.ia.us/government/dia/index.html
Facility Check: 515-281-6325
Laws: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/76GA/Legislation/SF/00400/SF00454/Current.html

Kansas
Term: Assisted Living or Residential Health Care Facilities
General Info: http://www.agingkansas.org/
Facility Check: http://www.agingkansas.org/kdoa/lce/FacReports/alf.pdf
Laws: http://www.agingkansas.org/kdoa/lce/regs/statutes/Licensure_Statutes_Pages1to22.pdf

Kentucky
Term: Certified Assisted Living Communities
General Info/Facility Check: http://chfs.ky.gov/dhss/das/ALC.htm
Laws: http://162.114.4.13/KRS/194A00/CHAPTER.HTM

Louisiana
Term: Adult Residential Care Homes/Faculties
General Info: http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/os/licensing_.html
Facility Check/Laws: 225-922-0015

Maine
Term: Assisted Housing Programs
General Info: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/beas/assisted.htm
Facility Check: 207-624-5250
Laws: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/ch113.htm

Maryland
Term: Assisted Living Programs
General Info: http://dhmh.state.md.us/ohcq/
Facility Check/Laws: 410-402-8201

Massachusetts
Term: Assisted Living Residences
General Info:
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elderssubtopic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Housing&L2=Assisted+Living&sid=Eelders
Facility Check/Laws: 617-727-7750

Michigan
Term: Homes for the Aged and Adult Foster Care
General Info: www.michigan.gov.dhs
Facility Check: http://www.cis.state.mi.us/brs_afc/sr_afc.asp
Laws: http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=40015101&Dpt=HS&RngHigh=

Minnesota
Term: Assisted Living Home Care
General Info: www.health.state.mn.us
Facility Check: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/directory/providerselect.cfm
Laws: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/profinfo/lic/alhcp.htm
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/144A/

Mississippi
Term: Personal Care Residential Living
General Info: www.msdh.state.ms.us
Facility Check: 601-576-7300
Laws: http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/resources/341.pdf

Missouri
Term: Residential Care Facilities
General Info: http://www.dhss.mo.gov/
Facility Check: http://www.dhss.mo.gov/showmelongtermcare/
Laws: http://www.dhss.mo.gov/NursingHomes/LawsRegs.html

Montana
Term: Assisted Living
General Info: www.dphhs.mt.gov
Facility Check: 406-444-2676
Laws: http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/qad/assistedliving/subchapter28.pdf

Nebraska
Term: Assisted Living
General Info: http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/crl/medfac/alf/alf.htm
Facility Check: http://www.nebraska.gov/LISSearch/search.cgi
Laws: http://www.sos.state.ne.us/business/regsearch/Rules/Health_and_Human_Services_System/Title-175/Chapter-4.pdf

Nevada
Term: Residential Facilities For Groups
General Info: http://health2k.state.nv.us/
Facility Check/Laws: 702-486-6515

New Hampshire
Term: Residential Care Home Facilities & Assisted Living
General Info: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/BEAS/assisted-living.htm
Facility Check: 603-271-4592
Laws: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/BEAS/LAWS-RULES-POLICIES/default.htm

New Jersey
Term: Assisted Living & Personal Care
General Info: http://www.state.nj.us/health/ltc/alinnj/index.shtml
Facility Check: http://www.state.nj.us/health/ltc/cgi/facilitysearch.shtml
Laws: 609-633-8993

New Mexico
Term: Adult Residential Care
General Info: http://dhi.health.state.nm.us/index.php
Facility Check: 505-476-9025
Laws: http://dhi.health.state.nm.us/hflc/hflc_regindex.php

New York
Term: Adult Care Facilities
General Info: http://www.health.state.ny.us/facilities/assisted_living/index.htm
Facility Check: 518-408-1600
Laws: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/infection/ltc_act/index.htm

North Carolina
Term: Assisted Living Residences
General Info: http://facility-services.state.nc.us/
Facility Check: http://facility-services.state.nc.us/complaintintake.html
Laws: http://facility-services.state.nc.us/testrules.htm

North Dakota
Term: Assisted Living
General Info: http://www.health.state.nd.us/HR/
Facility Check/Laws: 701-328-2352

Ohio
Term: Residential Care Facilities
General Info: www.odh.state.oh.us
Facility Check: 614-466-7856
Laws: http://www.odh.state.oh.us/rules/final/finalRules.aspx

Oklahoma
Term: Assisted Living Centers
General Info: http://www.health.state.ok.us/
Facility Check: 405-271-6868
Laws: http://www.health.state.ok.us/program/condiv/continuum.html

Oregon
Term: Assisted Living
General Info: http://dhsforms.hr.state.or.us/Forms/Served/SE9098.pdf
Facility Check: http://oregon.networkofcare.org/index2.cfm?productid=1&stateid=43
Laws: 503-945-5832

Pennsylvania
Term: Personal Care Homes
General Info: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Business/PrsnlCareHms/
Facility Check/Laws: 717-783-3670

Rhode Island
Term: Assisted Living Residences
General Info: http://www.health.ri.gov/hsr/
Facility Check: 401-222-5888
Laws: http://www.health.ri.gov/hsr/regulations/proposed/alr-prop.pdf

South Carolina
Term: Community Residential Care Facilities
General Info: http://www.scdhec.gov/hr/
Facility Check: http://www.scdhec.gov/hr/licen/hlfaclist.htm
Laws: 803-545-4370

South Dakota
Term: Assisted living Centers
General Info: http://dss.sd.gov/elderlyservices/services/assistedliving/index.asp
Facility Check: 605-773-3356
Laws: http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/index.aspx

Tennessee
Term: Assisted Care Living Facilities
General Info: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/HCF/
Facility Check: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/HCF/PDF/ACLF_Sprinkler_Status_10-06.pdf
Laws: http://www.state.tn.us/sos/rules/1200/1200-08/1200-08-25.pdf

Texas
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/dads_help/care_locations/assisted_living.html
Facility Check: http://facilityquality.dhs.state.tx.us/ltcqrs_public/nq1/jsp2/qrsHome1en.jsp?MODE=P&LANGCD=en
Laws: 512-438-2630

Utah
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://health.utah.gov/hflcra/facinfo/ALINTERPRETIVEGUIDELINES.pdf
Facility Check: 801-538-6158
Laws: http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r432/r432-270.htm

Vermont
Term: Assisted Living Residences
General Info: 802-241-2345
Facility Check: http://www.dad.state.vt.us/ltcinfo/alhome.htm
Laws: http://www.dad.state.vt.us/Regulations/AssistedLivingRegsFinal.pdf

Virginia
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://www.dss.state.va.us/
Facility Check: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/alf.cgi
Laws: 804-726-7157

Term: Boarding Homes
General Info/Laws: http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/professional/bh.htm
Facility Check: http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/Lookup/BHRequestv2.asp

West Virginia
Term: Assisted Living and Residential Care Community
General Info: http://www.wvdhhr.org/OHFLAC/Residential/default.htm
Facility Check: http://www.wvdhhr.org/OHFLAC/FacilityLookup/FacInfoLookup.asp
Laws: http://www.wvsos.com/csr/verify.asp?TitleSeries=64-14

Wisconsin
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/bqaconsumer/AssistedLiving/AsLivindex.htm
Facility Check: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/guide/find/asstliving.htm
Laws: 608-243-2367

Wyoming
Term: Assisted Living Facilities
General Info: 307-777-7123
Facility Check: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/bqaconsumer/AssistedLiving/profiles/basics.htm
Laws: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/stats.html