It is unlikely that many people in America envision that their senior years will include abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other types of victimization. However, with estimates that more than 2.5 million older people are victims of some form of reported or non-reported maltreatment each year, with 90% committed by a perpetrator known to the elderly victim, this seems to increasingly be the case.¹ Their economic situations often make them easy prey for those determined to be predators for personal and economic gain. Abusers seek those who appear to be less capable of defending themselves and their property.

There are certain crimes for which the elderly are specifically targeted. An extensive undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation operation found that older consumers were specifically targeted by fraudulent telemarketers. The study showed that people who have already been victimized are at the greatest risk of being victimized again. Offenders reuse and sell victim information, targeting the same victims repeatedly until their assets are gone. Seniors are also targeted for get-rich schemes, home improvement and mortgage scams, investment fraud, and exploitation by fiduciaries and family members.

In many communities, victim advocates and justice professionals have forged important alliances with adult protective services, legal services, mental health professionals, federal/state/local agencies that address elder issues, and the private sector to develop a wide range of adult protection, legal responses, victim assistance, and crime prevention resources for elderly populations. In addition, public awareness initiatives have become a vital component of such collaborative efforts to educate communities about what, far too often, remains a hidden crime.

The elderly are more at risk than other age groups to suffer serious consequences of victimization. The effect of physical or sexual assault can result in more serious injuries to older people whose bones break and tissues tear more easily. The ability to recuperate or recover from injuries also diminishes with age. Financial crimes, whether perpetrated by strangers or family members, can be devastating to the elderly; unlike younger people who can work, invest, or save to make up for financial losses, the elderly are less likely to make up for their losses. If they have lost pensions or retirement savings that they had intended to use to supplement Social Security, the crime may pose a serious threat to their financial security.

The emotional impact of crime on elderly victims can also be extremely serious. The psychological trauma may be particularly profound for older victims since the ability to recover from trauma is influenced by pre-victimization coping patterns and support networks. For many elders, their sources or networks of support have diminished as they aged. The stresses associated with the criminal act itself or with court appearances can be exacerbated for elders with high blood pressure or other age related conditions. Elderly victims of financial crimes may also feel guilty or ashamed, particularly if the offender was a family member or someone else they trusted. They may lose confidence in their own judgment or become severely depressed, hopeless, or suicidal.

The fear of being victimized or re-victimized is more profound among the elderly than members of other age groups. Persons who are physically disabled or frail are likely to be extremely fearful about their personal safety. These fears prevent many older people from engaging in normal routine activities, often resulting in isolation and increased dependency.

Elderly victims have many of the same needs as their non-elderly counterparts. In addition, many older victims have special needs and face a variety of additional obstacles to accessing existing services as a result of common conditions related to aging or disability. These include:

Crisis intervention for elder abuse victims can include counseling about available options, emotional support, assistance in making arrangements, and the provision of information and referrals to supportive services in the community. Crisis intervention may be provided by special geriatric crisis teams, social workers, family violence programs, victim service professionals, or law enforcement personnel. Because it is usually easier for people in crisis to rely on old coping behaviors rather than to learn new ones, crisis intervention in elder abuse cases often involves encouraging victims to build on their strengths and past experiences to cope with the abuse situation(s). This may be accomplished by asking them to describe past crises and how they handled them. If the action or coping behavior worked in the past, it may be applied to the current situation.

Working with elderly clients in crisis often involves being more directive than in other situations. When an older person is overwhelmed by a situation, it may be helpful to break down what seems to be overwhelming obstacles into manageable parts. Addressing the simple, non-emotional, factual aspects of a situation first, and then proceeding into more sensitive areas of concern is often effective.

Support groups provide an encouraging environment for victims of elder abuse and other crimes to share their experiences in a safe and confidential environment. A number of communities have established such support groups through elder services programs. Elderly victims meet regularly with a trained facilitator to discuss and address their concerns, fears, and safety issues, and to work collaboratively toward solutions that promote safety, security, and a sense of hope.

In preventing and responding to elder abuse, collaboration is key to success, combining the skills and resources of law enforcement and justice professionals, state-level elder advocacy and adult protection agencies, legal services, victim service providers, and community-based and non-profit organizations.

¹ National Center on Elder Abuse, American Public Human Services Association. September 1998. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study 1996: Final Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families and the Administration on Aging.
² Ibid.