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Prevent Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation

Traffic sign with Stop Abuse written on it with a bright blue sky in the background

Being able to recognize the signs of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child, an individual with developmental disabilities, or other vulnerable adult is extremely important in protecting members of our society. Everyone should report signs that indicate a child, an individual with developmental disabilities, or other vulnerable adult may be the victim of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation (maltreatment). Many times, however, signs go unreported. Oftentimes, the witness does not report because they:

  • Did not know how or where to make a report
  • Believe nothing will happen.
  • Feel threatened, afraid or intimidated
  • Did not realize what was happening
  • Did not want to get involved

Making a report can mean life or death for a victim of maltreatment in certain instances. It is not your duty to investigate abuse, neglect or exploitation, but if you have a reasonable suspicion, you should report it.

Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation of an Individual Under 18 Years of Age

Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation of an Individual 18 Years of Age or Older

What are Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation?

Everyone has the right to be safe.  

Consent means saying yes or that a person agrees.  Personal space is the private area around a person's body. People need to ask first before they do anything in a person's personal space.

Abuse can be many things. Not all abuse can be seen. Abuse is unwelcomed touch or entering personal space without consent.

All of these can be Abuse:

  • Physical abuse is unwelcomed contact like hitting or touching and hurting someone on purpose
  • Sexual abuse or sexual assault is unwanted, forced touching and actions in a person's private parts. 
  • Unreasonable confinement is using unnecessary restraints of any kind or isolation. 
  • Verbal abuse includes using words that hurt someone's feelings and are mean. Others using pressure to make a person do something they don’t want to do. Using words to hurt someone because of their race, culture, disability, or life choices.

Neglect is not giving someone what they need to live. This includes:

  • Food
  • Water
  • Medication - The pills and treatments a person needs to stay healthy and manage their medical needs.
  • Home and Community Based Services including the help from people and agencies to make sure you feel safe, healthy, and living the life you want.
  • Physical and Mental Health care services like doctors, nurses, therapy, hospitals, social workers, counselors.
  • Shelter, a safe place to stay or live. It could be a house, group home, apartment, or motorhome.
  • Cooling - Air Conditioning (AC)
  • Heating
  • Supervision - When a person who is responsible to keep someone safe ignores them or their needs.

Exploitation is when someone uses another person or their things without asking to only help themselves. 

This can include:
●    Misusing or spending money, credit cards or bank accounts on things for themselves or things you don’t need.
●    Stealing or taking money, things or property.
●    Forced begging for things or money to give to them.
●    Prostitution, forcing someone to have sex to get money or things.

Abuse, neglect and exploitation can occur for a variety of reasons. Also, individuals can be victimized by friends, family members or strangers. 

Below are factors that can cause abuse, neglect or exploitation:

  • Caregiver stress: People who do not have the needed skills or resources and who are not prepared to be a caregiver may suffer from stress which may lead to abuse, neglect or exploitation.
  • Dependency: People in poor health are more likely to be abused than those who are in relatively good health. Caregivers who rely on the monetary resources of the older adult are also more likely to abuse.
  • External stress: Experiencing money problems, job stress and family problems can trigger people to abuse or neglect others upon whom they rely.
  • Social isolation: Social isolation is both a sign of potential abuse and a contributing cause.
  • Intergenerational violence: When violence is a learned form of normal behavior in childhood, it can be expressed in adulthood. This means if a person  grew up around violence, they may be more likely to be violent with their own family or someone for whom they are caring.
  • Personal problems of the abuser: People who have problems like alcoholism, substance abuse or behavioral health problems are more likely to become an abuser than those who do not.

Preventing Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation

The most important factor in preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation is to accept that no one, at any age, should be the victim of violent, abusive, humiliating or neglectful behavior. In addition, there are many things that individuals, families and communities can do to prevent abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Individuals should:

  • Stay social as you age. Maintain and increase your network of friends.
  • Keep in contact with old friends and neighbors. If you move in with a relative or change your address, share that information with them.
  • Create a "buddy system" with a friend outside the home. Plan for weekly contact and share openly with this person.
  • Ask friends to visit you at home. Even a brief visit can positively impact your well-being.
  • Accept opportunities for new activities. They can bring new friends.
  • Partake in activities in your community.
  • Volunteer or become a member of an organization. Contribute regularly.
  • Possess your own telephone and make regular calls to family and friends.
  • Post and open your own mail. If your mail is being intercepted, discuss the problem with postal authorities.
  • Stay organized. Keep your belongings neat and orderly. Make sure trusted others are aware that you know where everything is kept in case of emergency.
  • Take care of your personal needs. Keep regular medical, dental, and other personal appointments.
  • Plan to have your Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, or pension check deposited directly to your bank account.
  • Get legal advice about actions you can take for possible future impairments. This includes powers of attorney, guardianships or conservatorships.
  • Keep records, accounts, and property available for review by someone you trust, as well as by the person you or the court chose to manage your affairs.
  • Review your will and other legal documents periodically.
  • Give up control of your property or assets only when you decide you cannot manage them. Ask for help when you need it. Discuss your plans with your attorney, physician, or family members.

Individuals should NOT:

  • Live with a person who has a background of violent behavior, alcohol or drug abuse.
  • Leave your home unattended.
  • Leave cash, jewelry, or prized possessions lying about.
  • Accept personal care in return for transfer or assignments of your property or assets unless a lawyer, advocate, or another trusted person acts as a witness to the transaction.
  • Sign a document unless someone you trust has reviewed it.
  • Allow anyone else to keep details of your finances or property management from you.

Families should:

  • Maintain close ties with aging relatives and friends. Be aware of changes in their health and ability to live independently in case of incapacitation.
  • Discuss an older relative's wishes about:
    • Health care
    • Terminal medical care substitutes
    • Home care
    • Ownership of their personal assets
  • Find sources of help and use them. Many communities have the following resources:
    • Errand services
    • Housekeeping
    • Home-delivered meals
    • Senior recreation
    • Care during the day
    • Respite care
    • Transportation assistance
    • Medication management
  • Discuss and create a plan with a lawyer, advocate, or another trusted person on how the following financial assets should be handled before the person becomes incapacitated:
    • Financial records
    • Bank accounts
    • Will
    • Safe deposit boxes
    • Insurance
    • Debts
    • Sources of income
    • Trusts
  • Anticipate potential incapacitation. Create a family plan regarding who will take responsibility for such matters as:
    • Power of Attorney
    • In-home caregiving
  • Closely examine your family's ability to provide long-term, in-home care for a dependent relative. Consider the family's physical limits.
  • Plan how your own needs will be met when your responsibility for the dependent relative increases.
  • Explore alternative sources of care in case your situation changes such as:
    • Group homes
    • Nursing homes
    • Other relative’s homes
  • Discuss your plans with friends, neighbors, and other support systems before your responsibilities become a burden. Ask for their understanding and emotional support as you may need them.
  • Familiarize family members with emergency response agencies and services available in case of sudden need.

Families should NOT:

  • Offer personal home care unless you carefully understand and can meet the physical responsibilities and costs involved.
  • Wait until a person has moved in with you to examine their needs. You will need to think about access, safety, containment, and special needs. For example:
    • Do you need a first-floor accessible bathroom, bedroom or entry ramp?
    • Will rugs, carpets or stairs become barriers?
    • Do you need door alarms or a fenced yard to prevent the loved one from wandering away?
    • Does your kitchen allow you to prepare special diets properly?
    • Can you move the person safely in case of fire?
    • Do you need safety locks to secure dangerous medications or chemicals?
    • Do motor vehicles need to be disabled or keys hidden for unsafe drivers?
  • Assume that poor interpersonal relationships between you or other members of the household and the older person involved will disappear.
  • Expect irritating habits or problems such as alcohol abuse to stop or be controlled once the person moves into your home.
  • Ignore your limitations and over-extend yourself.
  • Restrict the person's independence or intrude unnecessarily upon their privacy.
  • Label your efforts a failure if home care is not possible and you must seek an alternative.

Recognizing Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation

Some examples of abuse, neglect and exploitation are easy to see, while many are not visible.

Physical Signs

  • Bruises - black and blue marks on a person's body that sometimes hurt to touch.
  • Burns - burns happen when something hot touches a person and leaves a painful mark on their body.
  • Body injuries including binding marks caused by being tied up, bite marks, bone breaks, bed sores and stomach injuries.

Behavioral Signs

  • Withdrawal from friends or usual activities. A person may stop doing things they like to do or things that make them feel good about themself.
  • Anger is a strong feeling. It may cause a person to yell or be mad at people. Anger can make a person feel like they are not in physical control and do bad things to people or things they love.
  • Hyperactivity means having a lot of energy that is hard to control.
  • Suicidal thoughts or attempts. A person may feel the only way to make painful feelings stop is to end their life.
  • Change in appetite. A person's desire or want to eat food has changed and they eat more, less or not at all.
  • Low self-esteem means a person does not see themself in a good way. Their thoughts about themself are not nice.
  • Depression means a person feels deeply sad all the time. Depression makes it hard to do daily things. It can be hard to change these thoughts to feel better or happy.
  • Use/Abuse of alcohol or other drugs. A person may use too much alcohol, medication or illegal drugs to make themself feel better.
  • Obsessive or compulsive behavior are repeated and unwanted thoughts or urges.
  • Sleep disturbances are changes in how or when a person goes to sleep or stays asleep.
  • Fear of a particular place.
  • Fear of being with a specific person

Environmental Signs

  • Odors if someone stops taking baths or stops taking trash out.
  • Dirty and cluttered living space if someone becomes messy and stops cleaning.
  • Infestations of large amount of bugs or pests in your home.
  • Safety concerns like needing to have certain items in your room to make you feel safe or a new need to keep the door locked.
  • Hoarding - Buying or collecting things you don’t need to make yourself feel better or safe.
  • Absence of food in refrigerator or cupboards
  • No running water
  • No utilities like air conditioning, heat, or electricity in the home.

Report Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation

Suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation should be reported immediately. Call 911 if the victim is in immediate danger.

Individuals Under 18 Years of Age
 

Reports should be submitted to the Arizona Department of Child Safety

Report via phone: 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445)

Visit dcs.az.gov/report-child-abuse for more information

Information required when making a report:

  • Name, age, and gender of child and other family members
  • Address, phone numbers, and/or directions to child's home
  • Parents' place of employment
  • Description of suspected abuse or neglect
  • Current condition of the child

Make a report even if you don’t have all the information they are asking for!  Even if you are unsure.

Individuals Over 18 Years of Age
 

Reports should be submitted to the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Adult Protective Services.

Report via phone: 1-877-SOS-ADULT (1-877-767-2385)

Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & State Holidays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Report Online

Online reporting is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Information required when making a report:

  • Adult's name, age and gender
  • Address of adult's home
  • Medical or mental diagnosis if known
  • Physical and mental limitations or concerns
  • Whether their condition limits their ability to protect themselves
  • Suspected maltreatment
  • Information about alleged perpetrator

Make a report even if you don’t have all the information they are asking for!  Even if you are unsure.

Resources for Members, Families and Providers

Caregivers

Education

General Education

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Education for Families

Education for Providers

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