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Help Prevent Elder Abuse

Text saying, "World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15."

Tomorrow, June 15, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. As part of our mission to protect your benefits and our vision to empower you to enjoy a healthy and secure retirement, LACERA is keenly focused on safeguarding your well-being in multiple areas. It is increasingly important for the LACERA community to take part in protecting ourselves and the older adults in our lives against elder abuse, since by 2030 one out of every five people in the U.S. will be 65 or older!

You can show your support for Elder Abuse Awareness Day by wearing purple tomorrow. In addition, here’s a list of ways to take action to protect yourself and your loved ones on an ongoing basis:

  • If you suspect a case of elder abuse (financial, physical, psychological, sexual, or neglect), contact the L.A. County Elder and Dependent Abuse Hotline at 877-477-3646 or your state’s Adult Protective Services office, as well as your local police department.
  • Have open conversations with your older relatives and maintain lines of communication regarding financial matters. Help educate them about ongoing scams that target older adults, and remind them to never give out their Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers over the phone or by email.
  • Keep a watchful eye on accounts. Watch your own accounts for signs of identity theft and security issues. In addition, if you are responsible for any older relatives, have a good understanding of their financial situation, and look for red flags such as unexplained withdrawals, sudden changes in accounts or estate planning documents, and other unusual transactions. See this financial exploitation check list for more tips.
  • Let us help! If you know a LACERA member in need of assistance or suspect that a member’s benefits are being exploited, please contact us at 800-786-6464 to speak with a retirement benefits specialist. You can also report suspected financial abuse to the U.S. Justice Department's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.

To prevent elder abuse and neglect and to connect older adults and their caregivers with the services they need, here are some additional links to government agencies and resources:

Thank you for all you do to support your community and loved ones at home!