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Elder Abuse & Crime
If you or an older adult you know has experienced elder abuse or another crime, you are not alone. Call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469) to be connected with NYC Aging supports and programs.
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is perpetrated by a trusted individual and refers to several types of mistreatment a person over the age of 60. Elder abuse can be financial, physical, emotional/psychological, sexual, caregiver neglect.
To support those impacted by elder abuse, NYC Aging partners with community-based Elder Justice programs in each borough who provide services and support.
Services can include, but are not limited to:
- Case consultations and assistance
- Crisis intervention and safety planning
- Shelter referral
- Counseling
- Virtual or in-home assessments
- Assistance navigating the court systems, such as Family, Criminal, and/or Housing courts.
Crime Prevention and Support Services (C-PASS)
NYC Aging’s Crime Prevention and Support Services (C-PASS) Program helps older adults impacted by crimes such as financial scams and theft, robberies, harassment, and physical assaults. Some of the services that are provided include:
- Safety planning and tailored resources to address the impact of the crime
- Information and assistance in filing financial crime complaints with investigative agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Connecting with law enforcement and legal services
- Referrals to mental health services and other NYC Aging programs such as case management and home-delivered meals
C-PASS also helps older adults complete applications to the NY State Office of Victims Services (OVS) for potential reimbursement of crime-related losses and expenses.
SAFE Initiative
The Secure Assets for Elder Women (SAFE) Initiative partners with financial institutions to strengthen protections against financial exploitation, fraud and abuse of older adults. SAFE delivers targeted training to financial institution staff and to older adult audiences to increase awareness of financial exploitation, and strategies to prevent victimization.
Be scam aware!
Criminals may target older adults to steal money or personal information through a variety of scams. Some common scams include government impersonation (claiming to be from IRS or Social Security), gift card scams, charity and lottery scams, “grandchild in trouble” scam, tech support and other computer-based scams.
Remember, never give your personal or financial information to unknown callers, and always safeguard your social security number and Medicare/Medicaid information. Consider letting calls from unknown numbers go to voicemail. When in doubt, hang up.
Learn more about common scams and how to protect yourself with the following resources:
- NYC Aging’s Scam Prevention and Financial Literacy flyer: Scam Prevention and Financial Literacy Tips
- NYPD Scam Spotting : NYPD general scam spotting flyer: Scam Alert Flyer Final v3 (nyc.gov)
- NYPD Identity Theft Prevention: NYPD Identity Theft prevention: identity theft final (nyc.gov)
- Federal Trade Commission Gift Card Scam Awareness: FTC Gift Card Scam awareness flyer: Hang Up On Gift Card Scams
- National Council on Aging’s “Avoid Scams and Fraud for Older Adults”: Avoiding Scams and Fraud for Older Adults (ncoa.org)
If you’ve been impacted by a scam, call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469) to be connected to the Crime Prevention and Support Services (C-PASS) Program for services and support.