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1. What is elder abuse?

Abuse of an elder or dependent adult includes any of the following:

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Abandonment
• Isolation
• Financial Abuse
• Neglect
• Self-Neglect
• Mental Suffering

2. What are the signs of elder abuse?

• Physical Abuse: e.g. Hitting, kicking, burning, dragging, over or under medicating.
• Sexual Abuse: e.g. Unwanted sexual contact, sexual exploitation, forced viewing of pornography.
• Abandonment: e.g. Desertion or willful forsaking by anyone having responsibility for care.
• Isolation: e.g. Preventing the individual from receiving mail, telephone calls, visitors.
• Financial: e.g. Theft, misuse of funds or property, extortion, duress, fraud.
• Neglect: e.g. Failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, or health care for an individual under one's care when the means to do so are available.
• Self-Neglect: e.g. Failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, or health care for oneself.
• Mental Suffering: e.g. Verbal assaults, threats, causing fear.

View the Red Flags of Elder Abuse (PDF) to learn more.

3. What can you do to help?

If you suspect that an older or dependent adult needs help:

• Call 800-664-9774 to report Elder abuse occurring in Butte County
• Submit a form:
  • Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse Form (PDF)
  • Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse Form - Financial (PDF)
  • Fax Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse forms to 530-538-5093

If you are in immediate danger, please contact 911.

4. Who must report?

Reports are made by either of the following:

• Concerned citizens
• Mandated Reporters

The law requires mandated reporters to make a verbal report immediately or as soon as possible, but within 24 hours, followed by a written report within 2 days.

• Any person who has assumed full or intermittent responsibility for care or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether or not that person receives compensation
• Administrators, supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or private facility that provides care or services for elder or dependent adults
• Any elder or dependent adult care custodian
• Health practitioners
• Clergy member
• County welfare departments
• Law Enforcement and Fire departments
• Any other protective, public, sectarian, mental health, private assistance or advocacy agency or person providing health services or social services to elders or dependent adults
• Financial institutions when suspecting financial abuse

Mandated Reporter Training Information

This training is recommended for all employees of public and private care facilities, for health care workers, members of the clergy, employees of financial institutions, law enforcement personnel and anyone with full or intermittent responsibility for the care and custody of an elderly or dependent adult.

You can find the free Mandated Report Training online. For more information about the requirements for a Mandated Reporters please visit the CA Adult Protective Services page.