Protecting older adults from abuse

Your neighbor may have an adult child living with them. You may notice the child is purchasing big items. In visiting with the neighbor, you learn the child doesn’t work and is spending their retirement. They may express fear of the child because of substance abuse.

Neglect, abuse and exploitation of our older citizens is most often perpetrated by adult children (22%) or other family members (31%) who may be protected by the at-risk adult despite mistreatment, according to information from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services (APS).

Elder Abuse happens...