Are there national estimates on the incidence of elder abuse?
According to the National Incidence Study on Elder Abuse, approximately 450,000 elderly persons experienced abuse in 1996 nationwide. If self-neglect is included, the number is 551,000. It is also estimated that only 1 out of 14 cases of domestic elder abuse (excluding self-neglect cases) is identified or brought to the attention of authorities.Despite the lack of comprehensive and timely studies, various surveys have found considerable consistency in the character of elder abuse. Among the most compelling statistics are the following: • A 2000 survey of AOS investigations across the United States revealed a troubling 61 percent increase over 1996 in the number of elder-abuse allegations nationally—and a staggering 300 percent increase since the first national survey in 1986. • Female elders are abused at a higher rate than males, after accounting for their larger proportion in the aging population. • Our oldest elders (80 years and over) are abused and neglected at two to three times
