Senior Crime Victim Service Provider Information
With a large percentage of citizens over the age of 60, Pennsylvania’s older residents are targets for a wide variety of scams, cons and other crimes. Seniors are targeted for many kinds of consumer fraud, especially home improvement, financial exploitation, telemarketing and sweepstakes. However, the elderly are the targets of other types of abuse as well, such as neglect, physical assault, and sexual abuse.
While all seniors are potentially vulnerable to criminal victimization, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, elder abuse is most concentrated among the very old. The age group most often found to need protective services (39%) is over the age of 81. Additionally, the majority of older adults found to need protective services are Caucasian females (67%) and are dependent on their abusers. The data reveals that 55% of alleged perpetrators are 30-59 years of age. The distribution of perpetrators by sex reveals that the majority are female. Pennsylvania’s data is similar to national data in that the largest group of abusers is that of female caregivers. Nonetheless, elder abuse broadly defined is a crime, and it negatively impacts many of our residents every year.
With this as a backdrop, the Office of Victims’ Services is providing this page as a means of information exchange and resource sharing around this topic. If your agency has created any materials related to elder abuse and/or to the provision of services to senior victims, including outreach materials and presentations, please send them electronically to rebressler@pa.gov and we will post them for sharing. We hope service providers find this resource helpful.
PA Department of Aging Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General's Senior Crime Prevention University
Attorney General's Senior Crime Prevention University Brochure
Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection
You can access the Attorney General's online Elder Abuse Unit complaint form by clicking here, or you can call their toll-free Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-866-623-2137.
SeniorLAW Center
The Pennsylvania SeniorLAW Helpline
Center For Advocacy For The Rights And Interests Of The Elderly (CARIE)
Identity Theft Action Plan
"Guardianships: Cases of Financial Exploitation, Neglect, and Abuse of Seniors"
Pocket Guide on Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation
Philadelphia Elder Abuse Resource List
Foreclosure Rescue Scams Information
Sweepstake Mailers Scams Information
Caller ID Spoofing Information
The Grandparent Scam Information
Top Scams of 2010 Information
Beware of Contract Scams and Traveling "Home Improvement" Con-Artists
Costly Coupon Scams
After Hurrican Irene and Other Natural Disasters: Charity Scams
Credit Card Fraud: 21 Tips to Protect Yourself
Strategies to Reduce The Incidence and Impact of Crime That Victimizes The Elderly
Window Cling for Senior Safety
2011 Pennsylvania Legal Services Directory
Aging IQ
CARIE-PAVE Brochure
Edler Abuse Awareness Kit
Pennsylvania SMP Brochure Preventing Medicare Fraud
Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Consumer Presentation
Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Professional Training
Elder Abuse Overview Presentation
Elder Abuse What You Should Know Presentation
LTC Ombudsman - Institutional Abuse Presentation
Older Americans 2010 - Aging Demographics Presentation
Bonnie, R., and R. Wallace, eds. Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in an Aging America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2003.
National Center on Elder Abuse. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study. Final report to the Administration on Children and Families and Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Grant No. 90–AM–0660, 1998.
Elder Abuse Outreach and Prevention Campaign
Nursing Facilities’ Employment of Individuals with Criminal Convictions
Safe at Home? Developing Effective Criminal Background Checks and Other Screening Policies for Home Care Workers
Protecting Yourself From Financial Explotation Brochure
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