Travis County Releases Data On Elder Abuse To Raise Awareness

AUSTIN, TX — With May designated as "Elder Abuse Prevention Month," officials advocating for the growing demographic on Tuesday outlined key facts about the county's graying population.

The information is eyebrow-raising data, given the status of Central Texas as home to an expanding number of seniors. According to a Brookings Institution 2011 report (see page 9), the Austin-Round Rock area has the fastest growing “pre-senior” (age 55-64) metro area population in the nation and the second highest senior (age 65+) population.

Last year in Texas, Adult Protective Services (APS) investigated the situations of more than 84,500 people, who were 65 or older or had disabilities, and found that more than 51,000 of them suffered one or more forms of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, officials said. In Central Texas (DFPS Region 7) in 2017, Texas APS caseworkers investigated more than 8,500 reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

This month, Texas APS is working to raise awareness of the often life-threatening cases of adult abuse, and communities across the state are hosting related events. (See the list of events.) Find additional information and a video at Everyonesbusiness.org.

Residents can learn how to recognize the signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation with this online training. Texas law requires anyone who suspects adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation to report it to the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or online at TxAbuseHotline.org. Callers can remain anonymous.

APS is a division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Its mission is to protect people, who are 65 or older or who have disabilities, from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by investigating and providing, or arranging for, services to alleviate or prevent further maltreatment.

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