Reports of elder abuse on the rise in Washington state

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month.

Last year, Washington’s Adult Protective Services division received more than 66,000 reports of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation.

Jilma Meneses, secretary of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services, said she worries the reports don't capture the whole of the problem. Adult abuse, she said, may in fact be underreported due to factors like isolation during the pandemic.

The rising reports of abuse come as Washington population ages. For comparison, in 2010 about 12% of Washington residents were 65 and older. By 2020, that percentage had jumped to nearly 17%.

Adult Protective Services relies on the public to report signs of abuse and neglect, including suspicious injuries and unexplained financial charges. To combat elder abuse, the public is encouraged to check in on vulnerable adults and offer caregivers respite breaks.