- More than one in ten older adults is abused each year.
- Elder abuse is more common in care facilities, with most staff admitting to some form of abuse.
- Family members are most likely to commit elder abuse in a community setting, particularly adult children or spouses.
- Elder abuse victims are significantly more likely to die within a year than other older adults.
- Injuries related to elder abuse cause more than $5 billion in health care costs every year.
Elder abuse is disturbingly common. More than 200,000 cases of elder abuse are reported every year in California, and experts believe there are as many as 24 unreported cases for every one we know about. In 2009, California received complaints of abuse, gross neglect, or exploitation at more than twice the national average rate.
Types of Elder Abuse
More than one in every ten adults aged 65 and older experiences some kind of elder abuse each year. Common types of elder abuse include the following:
- Neglect: Caretaker neglect is significantly undercounted, with only an estimated one in roughly 57 cases reported. However, roughly 5.1% of seniors experience it every year.
- Financial abuse: Older adults are a frequent target of scammers and may be exploited by those they trust for their financial resources and valuables. Adult protective services agencies received more financial abuse reports than any other kind between 2023 and 2024.
- Physical and sexual abuse: While physical abuse is typically the least commonly reported variety of elder abuse, it can be the most devastating.
- Verbal and psychological abuse: According to a 2009 study, 9% of older adults surveyed said they’ve experienced verbal mistreatment, significantly higher than those who reported physical or financial abuse. Another study in 2015 found a significant link between respondents who reported verbal abuse and mental health issues.
Location of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse can happen anywhere. It impacts roughly one in every six older adults worldwide—about 141 million people—according to a 2017 review.
While many older adults experience elder abuse in their communities, it’s most prevalent in care institutions such as nursing homes. Outside of institutional settings, victims are often abused by their own family members, with financial and emotional abuse being especially frequent.
Perpetrators of Elder Abuse
While anyone can commit elder abuse, it is often more likely to come from certain people based on their relationship with the victim.
According to studies, the following traits are common among perpetrators of elder abuse:
- Male
- Adult children or spouses of the victim
- Unemployed or experiencing financial problems
- History of substance abuse or legal troubles
- Mental or physical health issues
- Socially isolated
Family members are the most likely perpetrators of financial exploitation, with a study finding them at fault in nearly 58% of cases. While strangers committed 51% of publicized financial abuse cases involving elderly victims, the next most likely group of perpetrators is family, friends, or neighbors.
| Victim risk factors | Perpetrator risk factors |
|---|---|
| Female | High levels of stress |
| Dementia | History of alcohol abuse |
| Dependent on the abuser | History of drug abuse |
| Social isolation | Mental illness |
| Physically disabled | Lack of social support |
Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
More than 400,000 Californians annually receive care in roughly 1,230 long-term nursing home facilities throughout the state, though only a small percentage reside there for a year or more.
The following are some key statistics about nursing home abuse:
- Over 64% of care facility staff admitted to some type of elder abuse in the year before a June 2018 study.
- A 2019 review by the U.S. Office of Inspector General found that nursing homes often failed to properly report incidents of possible abuse or neglect.
- Of the citations from 2016 to 2017 reviewed by the S. Government Accountability Office, staff were responsible for 58% of elder abuse cases, and other residents were the perpetrators in 30%.
- Sexual abuse was only present in 18% of nursing home elder abuse cases, with physical and mental or verbal abuse each occurring in about 45% of cases.
Impacts of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse can greatly affect the physical and mental welfare of victims, compromising their health and ability to live a fulfilling life.
- A 2009 study found significantly higher risks of mortality among those who experienced elder abuse or self-neglect in a community setting, particularly within the next year.
- Elder abuse-related injuries create an estimated $5.3 billion in additional health care costs each year.
- Financial elder abuse causes over $2.6 billion in annual losses and significantly impacts those with cognitive disabilities.
- Elder abuse is associated with increased risks of depression and other types of mental distress.
- In isolation, verbal elder abuse has a greater impact on female victims than physical abuse.
- Elder abuse raises the hospitalization risk for victims by as much as three times.
How Common Is Elder Abuse in California?
- Over 1 in 10 older adults are abused each year.
- 200,000+ elder abuse cases are reported every year in California.
- 64% of nursing home staff admit to committing some type of abuse.
- 58% of financial elder abuse cases are committed by family members.
- Only 1 in 57 caretaker neglect cases are properly reported.
- $5.3 billion in annual health care costs are attributed to elder abuse.
If your loved one is experiencing elder abuse, don’t wait to take action. Contact Lanzone Morgan, LLP, online here or call us today at 888-887-9777 for a free consultation.
Preventing Elder Abuse
Knowing the signs of abuse and its risk factors can help older adults and their loved ones better identify potential abuse and stop it early.
Providing support to at-risk elders is a key measure for preventing abuse. Social support programs can connect seniors living in the community with resources that can reduce their likelihood of experiencing abuse and help them become more comfortable with receiving help.
Taking action to report suspected elder abuse and pursue consequences for those responsible can also help prevent future harm, particularly for those in dependent care facilities.
To report currently occurring abuse or neglect in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult day program, contact the California Department of Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISIS Line (800) 231-4024. To submit a complaint against a nursing home, contact the California Department of Public Health at (800) 554-0354. To report possible abuse at an assisted living facility, you can call the California Department of Social Services at letusno@dss.ca.gov.
An experienced elder abuse lawyer in California can help you seek justice for your loved one. Lanzone Morgan, LLP, has led the charge in holding nursing homes accountable for elder abuse, creating legal changes that have improved protections for residents.
If you suspect a loved one is experiencing elder abuse or neglect, contact us online or call 888-887-9777 today for a free consultation.
Sources
Bring awareness to elder and dependent adult abuse. (n.d.). Elder and Dependent Abuse Awareness. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://elderabuseawareness.c4a.info/
Elder abuse. (2020, October 28). State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. https://oag.ca.gov/dmfea/elder
Elder Abuse Statistics.(n.d.) U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://www.justice.gov/file/970666/dl?inline=
Laumann, E. O., Leitsch, S. A., & Waite, L. J. (2008). Elder mistreatment in the United States: Prevalence estimates from a nationally representative study.The Journals of Gerontology Series B,63(4), S248–S254. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/63.4.s248
Fulmer, T., Rodgers, R. F., & Pelger, A. (2013). Verbal mistreatment of the elderly. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect,26(4), 351–364. https://doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2013.801817
California ACR80 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session. (n.d.). LegiScan. https://legiscan.com/CA/text/ACR80/id/3229388
Yon, Y., Ramiro-Gonzalez, M., Mikton, C. R., Huber, M., & Sethi, D. (2018). The prevalence of elder abuse in institutional settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Public Health,29(1), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky093
Yon, Y., Mikton, C. R., Gassoumis, Z. D., & Wilber, K. H. (2017). Elder abuse prevalence in community settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health,5(2), e147–e156. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(17)30006-2
Burba, A. (2024, May 16). Elder abuse statistics 2025. ConsumerAffairs. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/assisted-living/elder-abuse-statistics.html
Statistics and Data. National Center on Elder Abuse. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/111016/documents/HMKP-116-JU00-20200915-SD006.pdf
Facts and Statistics. (n.d.). California Association of Health Facilities. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.cahf.org/About/Consumer-Help/Facts-and-Statistics
Incidents of potential abuse and neglect at skilled nursing facilities were not always reported and investigated. (2024, February 27). Office of Inspector General | Government Oversight | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2019/incidents-of-potential-abuse-and-neglect-at-skilled-nursing-facilities-were-not-always-reported-and-investigated/
Nursing Homes: Improved Oversight Needed to Better Protect Residents from Abuse. (2019, July 23). U.S. GAO. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-433
Dong, X. Q., Simon, M., De Leon, C. M., Fulmer, T., Beck, T., Hebert, L., Dyer, C. B., Paveza, G., & Evans, D. (2009). Elder self-neglect and abuse and mortality risk in a Community-Dwelling population. JAMA, 302(5), 517. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1109
The following content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.