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Today’s number: 13,536

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Illinois

From 2002 to 2016, assault rates against men 60 and older are up 60% [according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]; for women, 35%. From 2010 to 2016, the murder rate of men in that age group rose 7.1%. For women, it decreased slightly. […]

According to the state’s Adult Protective Services agency, there were 13,536 reports of abuse against seniors in 2017.

Financial exploitation (8,604) made up the most cases, followed by passive neglect (6,679), emotional abuse (6,476), physical abuse (3,782), willful deprivation (2,268), confinement (1,381), and sexual abuse (765).

Victims generally experience more than one type of abuse, according to the agency. For example, financial exploitation is highly associated with emotional abuse. About 67% of victims were women, as were 51% of abusers.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 30, 19 @ 2:26 pm

Comments

This is a growing problem with the Baby Boomers increasing this age group also with greater life spans. I’m afraid the traditional senior support networks (family, church, community) are diminishing at the same time.

Interesting stat about the increasing assault rates against >60 men (approximately twice the increase of rates against women). Reasons? More aging men? More opportunities for assault? Crankier old men?

Comment by Res Melius Friday, Aug 30, 19 @ 3:00 pm
Predators look for the softest target they can find. Elderly are all too often the ones who seem to be the easy prey.

Comment by SOIL M Friday, Aug 30, 19 @ 3:15 pm
When I worked in hospice it was always a constant issue we were aware of and reported. It’s much much more common than anyone knows. They would often get referred to hospice and that’s when a lot of it would come out. There was a whole facility once that we had to hotline. They were “restraining” elderly patients. Awful stuff

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Aug 30, 19 @ 3:21 pm