Legal topic hub
Elder Abuse
Recognizing, reporting, and preventing elder abuse and neglect.
Jurisdiction: general U.S. information (federal and state overviews). State law varies — General information only — not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney about your situation.
Legal help for elder abuse
- Elder Abuse Lawyers
Recognizing and responding to abuse of older adults.
- Elder Financial Abuse Lawyers
Protecting older adults from scams and financial exploitation.
Guides & articles
- What Is Elder Financial Abuse?
How financial exploitation of older adults works — common scams, red flags, and steps to protect a loved one.
- Identity Theft and Older Adults
How identity theft affects older adults, warning signs, immediate recovery steps, and how to place fraud alerts and credit freezes.
- Scams Targeting Older Adults
The most common scams targeting seniors — grandparent scams, government impostors, romance scams — and exactly where to report them.
State-specific information
Only states that have passed our publication quality gate are listed. Currently published: Florida legal information. Requirements can vary by state — verify the applicable requirements for your jurisdiction.
Frequently asked questions
Who commits elder financial abuse?
Anyone: strangers running scams, caregivers, neighbors, and even family members. Studies consistently find that people known to the victim are responsible for a large share of cases.
What are the warning signs?
Unusual withdrawals, unpaid bills despite adequate funds, missing valuables, new 'friends' with financial interest, forged-looking signatures, and sudden changes to wills or powers of attorney.
What should I do if I suspect it?
Document what you see, alert the bank, report to Adult Protective Services, and file a police report if a crime may have occurred.
What are the warning signs of identity theft?
Bills or collection notices for accounts you didn't open, unexpected denials of credit, unfamiliar charges on statements, missing expected mail (like tax forms), and notices from the IRS about a return you didn't file.
What should I do first if my identity is stolen?
Go to IdentityTheft.gov — the FTC's official recovery site — which creates a personalized recovery plan and pre-filled letters. Then place a fraud alert with one credit bureau (it notifies the other two), review all financial statements, and file a police report.
What is a credit freeze and does it cost anything?
A credit freeze blocks new creditors from accessing your credit file, which stops most new-account fraud. It is free under federal law, does not affect your credit score, and you can lift it temporarily when you need to apply for credit.
What is medical identity theft?
When someone uses your identity to obtain medical care or prescriptions. Beyond the financial harm, it can corrupt your medical records with wrong blood types, allergies, or diagnoses — so correcting records with each provider matters, not just disputing charges.
What is the one rule that stops most scams?
Never send money, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to someone who contacted you unexpectedly — no matter how urgent they sound or who they claim to be. Legitimate organizations do not demand payment this way. When in doubt, hang up and call the organization back on a number you find yourself.
What is the grandparent scam?
A caller pretends to be a grandchild (or a lawyer or police officer calling about one) in trouble — arrested, in a car accident abroad — and urgently needs money wired. The scammer begs the grandparent not to tell anyone. Always verify through a separate, known phone number before acting.
Where do I report a scam?
Report to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov) for online fraud, and to your local police. If money was sent, also contact your bank immediately — fast action sometimes allows transfers to be reversed.
Can lost money be recovered?
Sometimes, but rarely in full. Banks can occasionally reverse recent wire transfers; gift cards and cryptocurrency are nearly always unrecoverable. This is why prevention matters far more than recovery — and why reporting helps protect others even when your own money is gone.
Who do I contact about suspected elder abuse?
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, every state has an Adult Protective Services (APS) program that takes reports about vulnerable adults — you can find yours through the Eldercare Locator at eldercare.acl.gov or by calling 1-800-677-1116. Reports can usually be made anonymously.
Sources
Sources & Further Reading
These are official or established sources you can use to verify the information above. External links open in a new tab.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Resources for Older Adults
External links do not imply endorsement.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
External links do not imply endorsement.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Pass It On — Fraud Prevention
External links do not imply endorsement.
Administration for Community Living
National Center on Elder Abuse
External links do not imply endorsement.
Hub content last updated: September 26, 2026.
Explore Elder Abuse Resources
Continue learning with our plain-language guides, or browse related legal topics for seniors and their families.
Explore Elder Abuse ResourcesLegalHelpForSenior.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.