Monroe County

Monroe County Commission on Aging
Serving Monroe County Seniors since 1973



Abuse and Neglect

Elder abuse is a growing problem! 
While we do not know all of the details about why abuse occurs or how to stop its spread, we do know that help is available for victims. Concerned people, like you, can spot the warning signs of a possible problem, and make a call for help if an elder requires assistance. 

The mistreatment of older adults takes many forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, the number of older adults who are mistreated each year is close to 5 million and rising. 

Domestic elder abuse generally refers to any of the following types of mistreatment that are committed by someone with whom the elder has a special relationship (for example, a spouse, sibling, child, friend, or caregiver).

Institutional abuse generally refers to any of the following types of mistreatment occurring in residential facilities (such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, group home, board, and care facility, foster home, etc.) and is usually perpetrated by someone with a legal or contractual obligation to provide some element of care or protection.

Elder abuse can affect people of all ethnic backgrounds and social status and can affect both men and women. The following types of abuse are commonly accepted as the major categories of elder mistreatment:

• Physical Abuse—Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need.
• Emotional Abuse—Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts.
• Sexual Abuse—Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, coercing an elder to witness sexual behaviors.
• Exploitation—Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.
• Neglect—Refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder.
• Abandonment—The desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
• Vulnerable: A condition in which an adult is unable to protect himself or herself from abuse, neglect, or exploitation because of mental or physical impairment or advanced age.

• Learn when and how to report abuse
• Get help for commonly seen “tricky situations” involving possible abuse of elders and adults with disabilities
• Learn about the agencies and organizations that respond to reports of abuse
• Learn what some communities and multidisciplinary teams are doing to prevent abuse from occurring
• Explore how the many fields and organizations that serve elders and adults with disabilities may play a role in abuse intervention and prevention
• To learn how to prevent abuse through volunteerism and raising awareness, visit the Get Involved section

• When you have unresolved questions or concerns about care in a facility.
• When you have questions about your rights in a long term care facility.
• When you have questions on alternatives to nursing home care.
• When you want to learn more about best practices and creative solutions to problems in long term care settings.
• When you are shopping for long term care services.
• When you have questions or need technical expertise in long-term care issues.

Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman  1-866-485-9393
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, assisted living facilities, and similar adult care facilities. They work to resolve problems of individual residents and to bring about changes at the local, state, and national levels that will improve residents’ care and quality of life.

National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center advocates for residents' rights and quality care; educate consumers and providers; resolve residents' complaints; and provide information to the public on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and services. 

The Administration on Aging (AOA) is the principal agency of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services designated to carry out the provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA), as amended (42 U.S.C.A. § 3001 et seq.). The OAA promotes the well-being of older individuals by providing services and programs designed to help them live independently in their homes and communities. The Act also empowers the federal government to distribute funds to the states for supportive services for individuals over the age of 60.

Nursing Home Abuse ~ "Know that Legal Help is Available"

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services 
903 South Telegraph Road, Suite A 
Monroe, MI 48161 
734-243-7200 
TDD 800-649-3777 

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Adult Protective Services (APS), perpetrators of the elderly and vulnerable adults are often trusted family, friends, neighbors, or caregivers. This can occur in the person's home, in the home of another person, or licensed settings such as adult foster care, homes for the aged, or nursing homes. If you suspect elder or vulnerable adult abuse, neglect or exploitation has occurred in;

• A private residence
• An unlicensed setting such as an assisted living facility
• An adult foster care home
• A home for the aged
• A nursing home where the suspected perpetrator is not an employee of the facility or the resident is on leave from the nursing home

Mandated Reporters
If you are a part of any of the professions listed below, you may have a legal obligation to report any suspicions regarding vulnerable adults who you believe have been harmed or are at risk of harm from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. To make a report, call 1-855-444-3911. 

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Psychologists
• Counselors
• Aides
• Hospital Administrators and Staff

• Teachers
• Administrators
• Counselors

• Social workers (administrators, supervisors, caseworkers, etc.)
• Law Enforcement Officers.
• County medical examiner and employees of the county medical examiner.
• Adult Day Care Providers.

The Michigan Model Vulnerable Adult Protocol for Joint Investigations of Vulnerable Adult Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation

• The purpose of the MI-MVP is to assist local communities in protecting, investigating, and serving older and vulnerable persons and investigating the victimization of these individuals through increased collaboration. 
• This is a model for local communities to customize and adapt, as needed, based on local resources and needs. 
• Michigan statute clearly defines a vulnerable adult as an individual aged 18 and older who is unable to protect himself or herself from abuse, neglect, or exploitation because of mental or physical impairment or because of advanced age. 
• Research demonstrates that vulnerable adult abuse is frequently part of the larger dynamic of family violence where the perpetrator is most often someone close to, related to, or in a close relationship with the victim. 
• Vulnerable adults, even those with cognitive limitations, retain the right to make their own choices and decisions unless