NW Illinois News

State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Moline) is raising awareness for Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and urging residents to recognize the signs of elder abuse.

"It's Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. I'm sharing this graphic to spread awareness around the signs of elder abuse. If you see something, report it!" Anderson wrote in a July 6 Facebook post.

In his Facebook post, Anderson shared information from the Illinois Department of Aging on how to report suspected elder abuse. To report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an adult age 60 or older or a person with disabilities age 18-59, visitors can call the statewide, 24-hour Adult Protective Services Hotline at 1-866-800-1409 or 1-888-206-1327 (TTY). Residents that live in in nursing facilities can call the Illinois Department of Public Health's Nursing Home Complaint Hotline at 1-800-252-4343. Residents living at Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) can call the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' SLF Complaint Hotline at 1-800-226-0768.

Callers should be prepared to have information including the alleged victim's name, address, telephone number, sex, age, and general condition; the alleged abuser's name, sex, age, relationship to victim and condition; the circumstances which lead the reporter to believe that the adult age 60 or older or person with disabilities age 18-59 is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited, with as much specificity as possible; whether the alleged victim is in immediate danger, the best time to contact the person, if he or she knows of the report, and if there is any danger to the case worker going out to investigate; whether the reporter believes the client could make a report themselves; the name, telephone number, and profession of the caller reporter; the names of others with information about the situation; if the reporter is willing to be contacted again; and any other relevant information.

Illinois Legal Aid clarifies that under the Adult Protective Services Act, individuals who make a report are immune from legal liability. The Adult Protective Services Act assures local agencies funded by the Illinois Department on Aging offer help to persons age 60 and older who may be abused, neglected, abandoned, or exploited by family, household members, or caregivers.