12 Facts About Elder Abuse

Personal Injury - August 7, 2026 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates

 

Facts About Elder Abuse

  1. For every one incident of elder abuse reported to authorities, fourteen incidents go unreported.
  2. Approximately 1.6 to 2 million seniors become victims of abuse or neglect in domestic and institutional settings in the United States every year.
  3. 91 percent of federal abuse prevention dollars are spent on child abuse, 7 percent is spent on domestic abuse, and 2 percent is spent on elder abuse.
  4. The four most common forms of elder abuse are physical (including sexual abuse), psychological and emotional abuse, financial abuse, and neglect.
  5. Most elder abuse victims are dependent on their abuser.
  6. In almost 90 percent of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member.
  7. At least 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse.
  8. Seniors who have been abused have a 300 percent higher risk of death than those who have not been abused.
  9. Experts suggest that 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimerā€™s disease.
  10. Nearly 50 percent of seniors with dementia or another form of mental decline experience some form of abuse.
  11. All 50 states have passed some type of elder abuse laws.
  12. 90% of U.S. nursing homes have staffing levels too low to provide adequate care.

We have attorneys who specialize in nursing home abuse. Ā If you are concerned that your loved one has or is currently being neglected or abused, call our office at 800-985-1819 or email usĀ for a free consultation.