Does the law provide any protections to reporters?
The Elder Abuse and Neglect Act provides extensive protections to all reporters, whether voluntary or mandatory. Anyone who makes an elder abuse report in good faith is exempt from civil and criminal liability as well as any professional disciplinary action. These same protections are provided to any person who provides information, records or services related to a report. The law also prohibits any retaliation by an employer against any employee who makes a good faith report of abuse, who is or will be a witness, or who will testify in any investigation or proceeding concerning a report of elder abuse. In addition, by law, a reporter’s name may be released only with the reporter’s written consent or by the order of a court. The Department on Aging also accepts anonymous reports.
