Victims of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation are three times more likely to die at an earlier age.

Overview What is elder abuse? Signs of abuse Myths about elder abuse Rights of vulnerable adults Maintaining connections Current laws Legislative updates Laws by state Articles of interest COMMON FORMS OF ABUSE Many people mistakenly assume that only battered paople are abused. → More TAKE ACTION "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."             Dr. Margaret Mead Gary A. Jones When Gary Jones became sick with terminal cancer, his caregiver denied him visitation with his children. → More Click on a state to begin. The current laws in that state will be displayed below. North Carolina The following definitions were taken from North Carolina General Statute, Chapter 108A, Article 6, the NC Adult Protective Services Statute: Abuse means the willful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of services, which are necessary to maintain mental and physical health. Exploitation means the illegal or improper use of a disabled adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage. Neglect refers to a disabled adult who is either living alone and not able to provide for himself the services, which are necessary to maintain his mental or physical health or is not receiving services from his caretaker. A person is not receiving services from his caretaker if, among other things and not by way of limitation, he is a resident of one of the State-owned hospitals for the mentally ill, centers for the mentally retarded or North Carolina Special Care Center he is, in the opinion of the professional staff of that hospital or center, mentally incompetent to give his consent to medical treatment, he has no legal guardian appointed pursuant to Chapter 35A, or guardian as defined in G.S. 122C-3(15), and he needs medical treatment. Here are some links for reference on elder abuse in the state of North Carolina: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/.../Article_6.html http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/adultsvcs/afs_aps.htm http://www.mecaaa.org/LTC%20Ombudsman.htm