Elder Abuse Awareness Month: Defending Dignity, Demanding Justice

June is Elder Abuse Prevention Month, and we at CFPIC pause to honor those whose hard work, wisdom, and sacrifice helped shape the country we know today. These elders are not just statistics or stories from the past, they are parents, grandparents, teachers, veterans, and neighbors. And they deserve to live their later years with dignity, respect, and safety.

Today, over 55.8 million people in the United States are aged sixty and older—a number that will soar to eighty-two million by 2050. As this population grows, so does the need to protect them. Each year, more than 10% of Americans aged sixty-five and older suffer from elder abuse. This is not just a social issue, it is a profound human tragedy. From physical and emotional mistreatment to sexual abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and abandonment, the harm is deep and lasting. Those who are frail, living alone, or struggling with mental illness are especially vulnerable—and too often, unseen.

The financial toll is staggering at nearly $36.5 billion lost annually to scams, theft, and exploitation. Even more heartbreaking, many victims suffer in silence. In care facilities, nearly two-thirds of staff are implicated in abusive behavior each year. This is not acceptable. Our trust must be met with compassion, not betrayal.

In California alone, more than 202,000 elder abuse cases are reported each year. And still, experts believe that is only a fraction of the truth. In 2019–2020, over 191,000 reports of abuse were made to Adult Protective Services. But it is estimated that only one in twenty-three cases is ever brought to light. Most never get the chance to speak or be heard.
Elder abuse can happen to anyone: a loved one, a neighbor, even you. It hides in plain sight, thrives in silence, and steals years from those who have given so much.

At CFPIC, we believe our elders deserve better. Their legacy deserves protection. Their lives deserve justice. If something feels wrong, do not wait, do not assume someone else has seen or said something. Contact your local Adult Protective Services agency. Speak up. Reach out. Be the reason someone receives the help they need.

Together, we can end the silence. Together, we can protect the dignity of every aging American.