Reported elder abuse up 84 percent in Illinois since 1993      

While the rates of many other crimes have decreased, reported cases of elder abuse are rising

[SEPT. 27, 2005]  CHICAGO -- Reports of elder abuse are increasing at an alarming rate despite a multiyear decline in Illinois crime, according to an analysis of existing data recently completed by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

Agency researchers examined the state and national problem of elder abuse with data obtained by the Illinois Department on Aging, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and a report commissioned by the National Center on Elder Abuse. Results of the analysis were published in "The rise in reported elder abuse: A review of state and national data," an Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Research Bulletin.

The analysis revealed an 84 percent jump in the rate of reported elder abuse in Illinois between June 1993 and June 2004. During the same period, the child abuse and neglect rate decreased 28 percent and the rate of child sexual abuse dropped 38 percent.

"Elder abuse is a growing concern for the criminal justice community," said Lori G. Levin, executive director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. "This analysis was conducted to put some perspective on the magnitude of the problem we're facing here in Illinois."

The analysis revealed:

• The most common form of reported abuse in Illinois was financial exploitation, at 34 percent; followed by emotional abuse, 28 percent; passive neglect, 22 percent; and physical abuse, 10 percent. Deprivation was reported in 3 percent of the cases; confinement was reported in 2 percent of cases; and sexual abuse was reported in less than 1 percent of cases recorded.

• Although the elder population decreases as it ages, the number of elder abuse victims increases. Nearly 40 percent of elder abuse victims in the state's fiscal year from July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004, were between 76 and 85 years old.

Also in Illinois in fiscal 2003:

• Seventy-five percent of reported elder abuse victims were white; 20 percent were African-American; 2 percent were Hispanic; and 1 percent or less each were American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander, or another or unknown racial or ethnic group.
• Almost half of reported elder abuse victims were widowed.
• More than 40 percent of elder abuse victims were defined as physically impaired.
• Nearly 35 percent were living with their alleged abuser.
• More than 40 percent of alleged abusers were children of the victim.

The table below illustrates the sharp contrast between the rise in elder abuse and drops in other crimes in Illinois since 1993.

The Research Bulletin was the first in a series of Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority publications on the elderly and the criminal justice system and may be downloaded at www.icjia.state.il.us. [Bulletin, in Adobe Acrobat] [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDF file, click here.]

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is a state criminal justice planning agency that advises the governor and the General Assembly on issues facing the state's criminal justice system. The agency administers criminal justice grants, develops and maintains criminal justice information systems, and conducts research to support criminal justice decision-making.

[Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority news release]

    Reported crime rates per 100,000 Illinois residents*

*Figures are rounded to nearest whole number. Percentages reflect actual rate.
**Violent index crimes include murder, criminal sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault.
***First full year of data collection available.