Do you feel safe in your home? Has anyone withheld food or care, hurt or touched you inappropriately, or threatened to move you to a nursing home? Has someone taken control of your money without your permission? Are you frequently belittled and yelled at, or left alone for long periods without support?

Elder abuse may take many forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment or financial abuse.

MVES is committed to protecting older adults by dedicating staff and resources to investigate and resolve complaints of elder abuse. However, all cases must first be referred to us through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence. If you need to report elder abuse or suspect someone is at risk, your first step is to contact the Elder Abuse Hotline at 800-922-2275 or submit a report online. Submit Online The hotline is toll-free, confidential, available 24/7, and provides interpreter services in more than 100 languages

If you are experiencing abuse, intimidation, or neglect—or if you believe an older adult you know may be a victim of abuse or neglect (including self-neglect)—please don’t hesitate to file a report. Your identity will remain confidential, and taking action can help ensure safety and support for those in need.

Additional reporting options:

To report abuse of a person at a nursing home or hospital, call the Department of Public Health at 800-462-5540.

To report abuse of a person with a disability who is under the age of 60, call the Disabled Persons Protection Commission at 800-426-9009.

• For more information, visit the National Center on Elder Abuse.

Mandatory Reporters

Certain people have legal requirement to report suspected elder abuse. They include physicians, nurses, medical interns, dentists, health aides, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, psychologists and counselors, case managers, firefighters, police and probation officers, emergency medical technicians, coroners, and managers of assisted living residences.

To make a verbal report please fill out the file below or call the Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-922-2275.

• Click here to access the mandated reporter form.

Recognizing Abuse

Abuse of older adults can take many forms. Please take a moment to view the graphic below and familiarize yourself with some of the types and signs of abuse. This graphic is from the National Institute on Aging, which has additional elder justice resources on its website. You can also find a variety of helpful information and materials on the National Council on Aging’s website.